Pissant
/ˈpɪs.ənt/noun
A very small ant, or a contemptible or insignificant person.
Did you know?The older form “pismire” also referred to an ant, while “pissant” later developed its insulting sense by comparing a person to something tiny and contemptible.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*peys-
“A reconstructed root associated with relieving oneself; the source of English piss.”
Old English
Old English
æmette
“Ant; the native Germanic ancestor of the modern word ant.”
Middle English
Middle English
pissen
“To urinate; descended through Old French from the same Indo-European family as piss.”
Middle English
Middle English
pismire
“An ant; literally a compound equivalent to “piss-ant,” probably referring to the insect’s odor.”
16th Century
English
pissant
“A small ant, formed from piss and ant.”
19th Century–Modern English
English
pissant
“A contemptuous term for a mean, insignificant, or irritating person.”