pygmy: [14] Greek pugmé meant ‘fist’ (it may have been related to Latin pugnus ‘fist’, source of English pugnacious). By extension, it was used for a ‘measure of length equal to the distance from the elbows to the knuckles’. From it was derived pugmaíos ‘dwarfish’, which passed into English via Latin pygmaeus. In ancient and medieval times it was used as a noun to designate various apocryphal or mythical races of short stature, but it was not until the late 19th century that it was applied to the people of equatorial Africa who now bear the name. => pugnacious
pygmy (n.)
late 14c., Pigmei, "member of a fabulous race of dwarfs," described by Homer and Herodotus and said to inhabit Egypt or Ethiopia and India, from Latin Pygmaei (singular Pygmaeus), from Greek Pygmaioi, plural of Pygmaios "a Pygmy," noun use of adjective meaning "dwarfish," literally "of the length of a pygme; a pygme tall," from pygme "cubit," literally "fist," the measure of length from the elbow to the knuckle; related to pyx "with clenched fist" and to Latin pugnus "fist" (see pugnacious).
Figurative use for "person of small importance" is from 1590s. Believed in 17c. to refer to chimpanzees or orangutans, and occasionally the word was used in this sense. The ancient word was applied by Europeans to the equatorial African race 1863, but the tribes probably were known to the ancients and likely were the original inspiration for the legend. As an adjective from 1590s. Related: Pygmean; Pygmaean.
实用例句
1. He's a pygmy when compared with great musicians.
他和伟大的音乐家相比就成了侏儒.
来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
2. Reaching a maximum height of 56cm the pygmy goat is essentially a pet.
因为最高仅为56厘米，这种矮种山羊基本上作为宠物来养。
来自柯林斯例句
3. He is a pygmy compared with you .
和你相比他就算是个侏儒了。
来自辞典例句
4. The various pygmy groups are thus the products of harshcircumstances.
各种侏儒种群都是残酷环境的产物.
来自互联网
5. Sales assistant : Well , you could get that pygmy warrior over there.
