pygmy
UK[ˈpɪɡmi]US[ˈpɪɡmi]
n
A member of certain peoples of very short stature in equatorial Africa and parts of Southeast Asia.
n
A very small person or thing.
adj
Used to describe something that is very small.
Etymology
The term 'pygmy' has a journey rooted in ancient Greek measurement and mythology. It derives from the Greek 'pygmaios', literally meaning "as small as a fist," from 'pygme', a unit of length based on the distance from the elbow to the knuckles. In Greek mythology, the Pygmioi were a race of tiny people, often depicted in fables as battling cranes. This mythological usage, transmitted through Latin 'Pygmaei', was later applied by European explorers to describe actual peoples of short stature in Africa and Asia, eventually generalizing in English to denote anything very small.
Analysis
The word is a simplex loanword. It originates from the Greek word 'pygmaios', meaning "dwarf" or "fist-sized," which itself is derived from 'pygme', meaning "fist" or a measure of length from the elbow to the knuckles.
Examples
The pygmy tribes have a rich cultural heritage in the Congo basin.
He felt like a pygmy among the professional basketball players.
The company is a pygmy compared to the multinational giants in the industry.