Category:Petty

Pet"ty, a. [compar. Pettier; superl. Pettiest.] Etym: [oe. petit, f. Petit; probably of celtic origin, and akin to e. piece. Cf. Petit.]

Defn: little; trifling; inconsiderable; also, inferior; subordinate; As, a petty fault; a petty prince. Denham. Like a petty god i walked about, admired of all. Milton. Petty averages. See under average. -- petty cash, money expended or received in small items or amounts. -- petty officer, a subofficer in the navy, as a gunner, etc., Corresponding to a noncommissionned officer in the army.

Note: for petty constable, petty jury, petty larceny, petty treason, See petit.

Syn. -- little; diminutive; inconsiderable; inferior; trifling; trivial; Unimportant; frivolous.