Paltry
/ˈpɔːl.tri/noun
Very small or amounting to little; contemptibly insignificant or meager.
Did you know?Paltry is tied to old words for scraps and rags, and its history shows how language can turn physical worthlessness into a moral judgment.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
ME
paltrie
“Scabby, ragged, or shabby; of little worth”
Old French
OF
paltre
“Ragged or tattered; paltry”
Late Latin
LL
paltarius
“Ragged, patched, or made of scraps”
Latin
LA
pallium
“A cloak or mantle”
Modern English
EN
paltry
“Insignificant; miserably small or meager”
Explore more surprising origins