Paltry

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈpɔːltɹi/

Alternative forms

• paultry, paultrie, palterey

Origin

From Middle Low German paltrig ("ragged, rubbishy, worthless"), from palter, palte ("cloth, rag, shred"), from Old Saxon *paltro, *palto ("cloth, rag"), from Proto-Germanic *paltrô, *paltô ("scrap, rag, patch"). Cognate with Eastern Frisian palterig ("ragged, torn"), German dialectal palterig ("paltry"). Compare also Low German palte ("rag"), West Frisian palt ("rag"), German dialectal Palter ("rag"), Danish pjalt ("rag, tatter"), Swedish palta ("rag"). See also palterly.

Full definition of paltry

Adjective

1. trashy, trivial, of little valueThis is indeed a paltry flyer about a silly product.She made some paltry excuse and left.
2. meager; worthless; pitiful; triflingCould someone hope to survive on such a paltry income?Student grants these days are paltry, and many students have to take out loans.

Usage notes

Nouns to which "paltry" is often applied: sum, rate, amount, number, price, salary, wages, fellow, pay, excuse, income, gain, compensation.

Anagrams

• partly
• raptly