midget

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(mĭj'ĭt) pronunciation
n.
  1. Offensive. An extremely small person who is otherwise normally proportioned.
  2. A small or miniature version of something.
  3. A class of small objects, as a class of very small sailboats or racing cars.
adj.
  1. Miniature; diminutive.
  2. Belonging to a type or class much smaller than what is considered standard: a midget automobile.

[Diminutive of MIDGE .]



adj

Definition: very short, small
Antonyms: big, giant, huge, large, tall

n

Definition: very small person
Antonyms: giant

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pronunciation

IN BRIEF: A very small person. Also: Anything very small of its kind.

pronunciation The model car was a midget replica of a real limousine.

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Random House Word Menu by Stephen Glazier
For a list of words related to midget, see:

  See crossword solutions for the clue Midget.

A midget is a short person with relatively average bodily proportions in comparison with other human beings. The term is often improperly used to describe a person with the medical condition dwarfism. The two terms are often used synonymously because both terms originate as words defining small people. However, "midget" is regarded as offensive to those with dwarfism by both the Restricted Growth Association (UK based support network for people of profound short-stature) and the Little People of America (the American support network), along with many other nationally based groups, advocating the rights of individuals with disabilities and dwarfing conditions.

The term "midget" was coined in 1865 to describe an extremely short person with body proportions similar to those of a normal-sized persons.[1] P. T. Barnum indirectly helped popularize the term midget when he began featuring General Tom Thumb in his circus. "Dwarf" originally denoted people with disproportionately short limbs. "Midget" however became linked to referencing short people put on display for public ridicule and sport, whereas the terms "dwarf" or "dwarfism" have a more medical base.

Like many other older terms, midget has become part of popular language, although it is sometimes used in a derogatory sense.[2] When applied to a person who is very short, midget is an example of the euphemism treadmill.[3] Actor Hervé Villechaize insisted on being called a "midget" as opposed to a "little person", which irritated some dwarf activists of the time.

Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary (Merriam-Webster, 1961) defines midget in the noun form as "a very diminutive person", and in the adjective form as "like a midget in size; very diminutive", hence its usage as a synonym for "miniature", as with cars.

According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the term midget comes from midge, a sand fly, and the diminutive suffix -et.[4]

References

  1. ^ Kennedy, Dan (2005-05-23). "What is Dwarfism?". American Documentary. http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2005/bigenough/special_dwarfism_ety.html. Retrieved 2008-10-11. 
  2. ^ "OED Online". DRAFT REVISION June 2010. http://dictionary.oed.com/. Retrieved 27 November 2010. 
  3. ^ "The "M" word". Arturo Gil and GilArt Designs. http://www.arturogil.com/m_word.htm. Retrieved 2007-08-07. 
  4. ^ Harper, Douglas. "midget". Online Etymology Dictionary. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=midget. Retrieved 2008-04-03. 

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - dværg, gnom, mandsling
adj. - dværg-, lilliput-, miniature-

Nederlands (Dutch)
dwerg, iets kleins, kleine raceauto, mini-

Français (French)
n. - nain, nain (injur)
adj. - miniature, de poche

Deutsch (German)
n. - Zwerg, Liliputaner
adj. - Miniatur-

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - νάνος, ανθρωπάκι
adj. - μικροσκοπικός, μικρός

Italiano (Italian)
nano

Português (Portuguese)
n. - miniatura (f), anão (m)
adj. - minúsculo

Русский (Russian)
лилипут, очень маленькое существо или вещь, миниатюрная фотокарточка

Español (Spanish)
n. - enano, chiquillo, submarino de bolsillo
adj. - en miniatura, liliputiense

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - dvärg, midgetbil
adj. - mini-, dvärg-

中文(简体)(Chinese (Simplified))
侏儒, 小型的

中文(繁體)(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 侏儒
adj. - 小型的

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 아주 작은 물건
adj. - 아주 작은

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - ユスリカ, 小人, 極小型のもの, ちび
adj. - 普通より小さい, 極小型の

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) قزم (صفه) صغير, ضئيل‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮גמד, ננס‬
adj. - ‮ננסי, קטן‬


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Mentioned in

The Dummy Talks (1943 Mystery Film)
WWF: Best of, Vol. 2 (1985 Sports & Recreation Film)
Nerds of a Feather (1988 Film)
Midget (Rock Band, '90s)