/ ˈpɔːltri; NAmE / adjective [ usually before noun ]
1.
( of an amount ) too small to be considered as important or useful
SYN meagre :
This account offers a paltry 1% return on your investment.
a paltry sum
2.
having no value or useful qualities :
a paltry gesture
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: apparently based on dialect pelt rubbish, especially rags ; compare with Low German paltrig ragged.