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Pygmy

Pygmy

8 8.1
A person from some Central African ethnic groups who is usually very short
  • noun
  • /ˈpɪɡmi/
translation icon : pigmeo
  • A fascinated Indiana looks over the pygmy's shoulder.
  • pygmy goat
  • Pygmy Owl
  • pygmy tribe

So how in the world did you end up with the pygmies?

Examples

  • We see a pygmy standing in what appears to be a grassy area.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • In some regions, the pygmy populations have unique cultural practices and languages.

  • There is a Pygmy legend of the bird with the most beautiful song.

    Academic text (1996)
  • And our river guide was a brilliant Pygmy who spoke only by clicking.

  • The pygmy runs to Clare, giving her a huge hug and a kiss.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • And if you look at the music that is played by the Cameroon pygmies, every time they play a piece, it sounds different.

  • There's a pygmy village near the Embouti settlement.

  • An elderly Pygmy played and sang into the evening some of the most haunting melodies I have ever experienced.

    Academic text (1996)
  • At the rear of the procession, a lone pygmy strums an unusual string instrument.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • The children of the pygmy community sang traditional songs around the village fire.

Compounds

A very small monkey from the Amazon rainforest that can fit in your hand

A small ape from central African forests similar to a chimpanzee that lives in groups

9.9

A rare small cypress tree that grows only a few feet tall in northern California

9.1

A very small mouse with dark grey-brown fur that lives in Texas and Mexico

A small sperm whale that lives in warm ocean waters

Surface Forms

Pygmy singular
Pygmies plural

Etymology

Pygmy comes from the ancient Greek word pygmaios, from pygme meaning 'fist' or 'arm length', a small measure people used long ago. So it was used to describe very short people, which helps explain the modern meaning of the word.