featherweight
UK[ˈfeðəweɪt]US[ˈfeðərweɪt]
n
a weight category in sports, especially boxing, for competitors who are very light.
n
a person or thing that is very light in weight.
n
a person or thing of little importance or influence.
Morpheme Breakdown
feather
weight
feather
light
weight
measure
Etymology
the compound "featherweight" is a transparent english construction from two germanic roots. the word "feather," from proto-germanic feþrō, evokes the ultimate in lightness, as a feather is a proverbial symbol of having negligible weight. the word "weight," from proto-germanic wihtiz, provides the core concept of measurement or heaviness. when combined, the literal meaning "the weight of a feather" evolved into a standardized term in boxing and a metaphor for anything exceptionally light or insignificant, perfectly illustrating how anglo-saxon roots can combine to create vivid, logical descriptors.
Analysis
Structure: feather (light) + weight (measure)
feather (from old english feþer, meaning a feather, of germanic origin; functions as a modifier indicating extreme lightness). weight (from old english wiht, gewiht, meaning a measure of heaviness, of germanic origin; functions as the core noun).
Examples
he won the championship in the featherweight division.
this new laptop is a featherweight compared to my old one.
in the grand scheme of the company, his opinion was considered a featherweight.