paltry

adj

Etymology: 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”). Of uncertain ultimate origin, but perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *polto- (“cloth”), see also Proto-Slavic *poltьno (“linen”). Cognate with Low German palterig (“ragged, torn”), dialectal German palterig (“paltry”). Compare also Low German palte (“rag”), West Frisian palt (“rag”), Saterland Frisian Palte (“strip; band; tape”), dialectal German Palter (“rag”), Danish pjalt (“rag, tatter”), Swedish palta (“rag”). See also palterly and pelting.

1. Trashy, trivial, of little value.

   “This is indeed a paltry flyer about a silly product.”

   “She made some paltry excuse and left.”

2. Of little monetary worth.

   “Could someone hope to survive on such a paltry income?”

   “Student grants these days are paltry, and many students have to take out loans.”

3. Despicable; contemptibly unimportant.

   “a paltry coward”

   “"An aged man is but a paltry thing, / A tattered coat upon a stick"”