Pygmies

Pygmies
Pygmy Pyg"my, n.; pl. {Pygmies}. [L. pygmaeus, Gr. ?, fr. ? the fist, a measure of length, the distance from the elbow to the knuckles, about 131 inches. Cf. {Pugnacious}, {Fist}.] [Written also {pigmy}.] 1. (Class. Myth.) One of a fabulous race of dwarfs who waged war with the cranes, and were destroyed. [1913 Webster]

2. Hence, a short, insignificant person; a dwarf. [1913 Webster]

3. One of a race of Central African Negritos found chiefly in the great forests of the equatorial belt. They are the shortest of known races, the adults ranging from less than four to about five feet in stature. They are timid and shy, dwelling in the recesses of the forests, though often on good terms with neighboring Negroes. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

Pygmies are pygmies still, though perched on Alps. And pyramids are pyramids in vales. --Young. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Pygmies — (singular: Pygmy) refers to a member of any human group whose adult males grow to less than 150 cm (4 feet 11 inches) in average height [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article 9062017/Pygmy Encyclopedia Britannica: Pygmy] ] or less than 155 cm.http …   Wikipedia

  • PYGMIES —    a fabulous people, their height 13½ inches, mentioned by Homer as dwelling on the shores of the ocean and attacked by cranes in spring time, the theme of numerous stories …   The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

  • pygmies — pyg·my || pɪgmɪ n. unusually small person, dwarf; anything that is unusually small for its kind adj. dwarfish, midget; miniature, tiny; very small …   English contemporary dictionary

  • Pygmies are pygmies still, thoug perched on Alps… — См. Пигмеи …   Большой толково-фразеологический словарь Михельсона (оригинальная орфография)

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