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Puny vs Pygmy - What's the difference?

puny | pygmy |

As nouns the difference between puny and pygmy

is that puny is a new pupil at a school etc.; a junior student while pygmy is (often capitalized, usually in the plural: Pygmies) A member of one of various Ancient Equatorial African tribal peoples, notable for their very short stature.

As adjectives the difference between puny and pygmy

is that puny is of inferior size, strength or significance while pygmy is relating or belonging to the Pygmy people.

puny

English

Noun

(punies)
  • (obsolete) A new pupil at a school etc.; a junior student.
  • (obsolete) A younger person.
  • *, II.12:
    • a law that the eldest or first borne child shall succeed and inherit all: where nothing at all is reserved for Punies , but obedience.
  • (obsolete) A beginner, a novice.
    • (Fuller)
  • (archaic) An inferior person; a subordinate.

    • Adjective

    (er)
  • Of inferior size, strength or significance.
  • * Shakespeare
    • A puny subject strikes at thy great glory.
  • * Keble
    • Breezes laugh to scorn our puny speed.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    See also

    * punny – relating to a pun ----

    pygmy

    English

    (Pygmies)

    Alternative forms

    * pigmy

    Noun

    (pygmies)
  • (often capitalized, usually in the plural: Pygmies ) A member of one of various Ancient Equatorial African tribal peoples, notable for their very short stature
    • The Bantu immigration drove many Pygmy''' tribes into the darkest jungle, while other ' Pygmies were reduced to cohabitation in a subservient status
  • (Greek mythology) A member of a race of dwarfs
    • ''Homer and Herodote mentioned Pygmies in India (which would fit the Andamanese Negritoes) or Ethiopia (then meaning all Subsaharan Africa)
  • (figuratively) Any dwarfish person
    • ''Everyone looked like Pygmies whenever giant Joe joined his classmates
  • (figuratively) An insignificant person, at least in some respect
    • ''Despite his towering stature, the minister proved a political pygmy

    Synonyms

    * dwarf * midget

    Antonyms

    * giant

    Derived terms

    * pygmyish * pygmyism * pygmy hippopotamus * pygmy sperm whale

    Related terms

    * pygmoid

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Relating or belonging to the Pygmy people
  • Like a pygmy; unusually short or small for its kind
    • ''Soil exhaustion ultimately produces a pygmy crop at best

    Synonyms

    * pygmyish * dwarfish

    See also

    * Negrito