adj.
Pronunciation: ' po ̇ l-tr ē
Function: adjective
Inflected Form: pal · tri · er ; -est
Etymology: obsolete paltry trash, from dialect palt, pelt piece of coarse cloth, trash; akin to Middle Low German palte rag
Date: 1570
1 : INFERIOR , TRASHY
2 : MEAN , DESPICABLE <a paltry trick>
3 : TRIVIAL <a paltry excuse>
4 : MEAGER , MEASLY <made a paltry donation>
– pal · tri · ness noun