Puny

Puny

Adjective · /ˈpjuːni/ · small and weak; pitifully inferior in size or strength

Definition

Puny means small and weak to a degree that invites pity or contempt — smaller than expected, inferior in strength, or laughably inadequate for the task at hand. It can describe a person's physique, an argument's force, a salary, an effort, or even a country's army. The word carries a subtle edge of mockery: to call something puny is not just to call it small but to suggest it is absurdly, embarrassingly so.

Origin

From Old French puisné — born after, younger — from puis (afterwards) and né (born). It entered English via legal usage in the 16th century as puisne, meaning a junior judge — literally one born later than the senior judges. Over time the meaning shifted from junior in rank to weak and underdeveloped, and the spelling simplified to puny by the 17th century.