petty etymology

Etymology

The word "petty" comes from the Late Latin word "pettifogger," which was a term used to describe a lawyer who handled trivial or unimportant cases. The word "pettifogger" itself is thought to be a combination of the words "petit" (meaning "small" or "insignificant") and "fogger" (a term used to describe someone who is dishonest or deceptive).

Meaning

In modern English, the word "petty" is used to describe something that is trivial, unimportant, or insignificant. It can also be used to describe someone who is mean-spirited or spiteful.

Origin

The use of the word "petty" to describe something that is trivial or unimportant dates back to the 16th century. The use of the word to describe someone who is mean-spirited or spiteful dates back to the 17th century.

petty relate terms

  • petit

    Etymology The word petit comes from the Old French word petit which in turn derives

  • piece

    Etymology Piece derives from the Old French word piece meaning fragment share por

  • petty

    Etymology The word petty comes from the Late Latin word pettifogger which was a term

  • petty

    Etymology The word petty comes from the Late Latin word pettifogger which was a term

  • cade

    Etymology The word cade has several possible etymologies Latin cadico to fall

  • petticoat

    Etymology The word petticoat comes from the Middle English word petticote which is i

  • little

    Etymology Little is from Middle English litel which is from Old English lytel mean

  • picayune

    Etymology French piecaille small change Latin pelica woodpecker probably borrowe

  • one horse

    Etymology The word one horse is derived from the Old English phrase on hors which me

  • spiv

    Etymology The term spiv is derived from the Yiddish word shpeyer which means saliv

  • exiguous

    Etymology Latin exiguus meaning scanty small meager Meaning Very small li

  • monger

    Etymology The word monger comes from the Middle English word mongere which in turn d

  • trivial

    Etymology The term trivial is derived from the Latin word trivialis which means per

  • subaltern

    Etymology Subaltern comes from the Latin word subalternus meaning of inferior rank I

  • secondary

    Etymology Origin Latin secundarius meaning of or pertaining to the second order or ra