English

Etymology
diminutive of midge (from O.E. mygg, mycg "gnat," from Proto-Germanic *mugjon, (cognate with Dutch mug 'mosquito' & German Mücke "midge, gnat")), using the suffix -et, originally (1865) for a "little sand fly" , only around 1869 also a "very small person"

Pronunciation
Rhymes: Rhymes:English:-ɪd�ɪt|-ɪd�ɪt

Noun
midget (plural: midgets)

1. (originally) a little sand-fly

#:Although tiny and just two-winged, midgets can bite you manyfold till you itch all over your unprotected skin

1. (loosely) Any small swarming insect similar to the mosquito; a midge
2. A normally proportioned person with small stature, usually defined as reaching an adult height less than 4'10".
3. derogatory A short person.
4. (attributively) That is a small version of something; miniature

#:the midget pony

Usage notes
The term midget to refer to a person of short and small stature is considered offensive by many.
Used for an insect, this is an variation on midge that is incorrect but commonly used.

Synonyms
(person below 4'10"): dwarf (loosely)
i-c|derogatory: any small person dwarf, short-arse, shortie/shorty, tich/titch, vertically challenged person (humorous)
i-c|miniature dwarf

Antonyms
i-c|derogatory: any small person giant
i-c|miniature giant

Translations
trans-top|person of small stature of adult height less than 4'10"
Danish: dværg
Dutch: dwerg
Finnish: kääpiö
German: Zwerg m, Zwergin f
trans-mid
Italian: nano m, nana f
ttbc|Spanish: enano m
Swedish: dvärg c
trans-bottom

trans-top|derogatory: any short person
Danish: gnom, mandsling
Dutch: dwerg
Finnish: kääpiö
French: nain m, naine f
German: Zwerg m, Zwergin f
trans-mid
Italian: nano m, nana f
Latin: nanus {m}}, nana f
Swedish: dvärg c
trans-bottom

trans-top|attributively: that is the small version of something
Danish: dværg-; mini-
Dutch: dwerg-, mini-
Finnish: kääpiö-
German: Zwerg-, mini-/Mini-
trans-mid
Italian: mini-
Swedish: dvärg-, mini-
trans-bottom

loosely: a midge
See midge

References
EtymOnLine? ¹

fa:midget
fr:midget
it:midget
fi:midget
ta:midget
vi:midget
zh:midget

• 2007-10-18 22:51 - VolkovBot - robot Adding: [[it:midget]]

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