/mom"euhn pop"/ , adj., n., pl. mom-and-pops .
adj.
1. of or pertaining to a small retail business, usually owned and operated by members of a family: a mom-and-pop grocery.
2. of or indicating something, as an enterprise, investment, or project, that is independent, small in scope, and modestly financed.
n.
3. a small-scale, owner-operated business.
[ 1950-55, Amer. ]