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Lilliput

Lilliput

4 9.6
An imaginary country in Gulliver's Travels where people are very small
  • proper noun
  • /ˈlɪlɪˌpʊt/
  • Literature
translation icon : Lilliput
  • In Jonathan Swift's 'Gulliver's Travels', the protagonist visits the imaginary land of Lilliput, populated by tiny people.

He says, consider a voyage to Lilliput, which is in the Blue Fairy Book.

Examples

  • We learn in Lilliput that Gulliver has "a head mechanically turned," but he applies it to nothing.

    Academic text (2016)
  • Now then, it is up to you to carry this message to my spies in Lilliput.

  • To save Lilliput... I must first destroy it.

  • EDWARD: And if you lose, this is what happens to Lilliput.

  • The Prince of Lilliput was not the first, nor was he the last ruler to have bad advice from his scientific counsel.

  • Gulliver, you must return to Lilliput with me at once.

  • GULLIVER: It's day seven of my stay here in Lilliput.

  • I can't imagine anyone in Lilliput not wanting you to stay as long as possible.

  • I am General Edward Edwardian, commander of Lilliput.

  • The court of Lilliput is peopled by petty Machiavellian schemers and technocrats.

    Academic text (2016)

Surface Forms

Lilliput main

Etymology

Lilliput comes from Jonathan Swift's book Gulliver's Travels, where it is the name of an island of very small people. That's why Lilliput and the related word Lilliputian are used to mean 'very small'.