late 14c., "small," from phonemic spelling of Old French petit "small" (see petit). In English, not originally disparaging (as still in petty cash, 1834; petty officer, 1570s). Mea [..]

junior-grade: inferior in rank or status; "the junior faculty"; "a lowly corporal"; "petty officialdom"; "a s [..]

small; unimportant

groshndik

relatively minor in degree [a offense punishable by not more than six months in prison] compare grand

(n) larceny of property having a value less than some amount (the amount varies by locale)(adj) inferior in rank or status(adj) (informal) small and of little importance(adj) contemptibly narrow in ou [..]

Sir William Petty was born on 26 May 1623 in the village of Romsey, Hampshire, and died on 26 December 1687 in London. His life was hectic: son of ...

Sir William Petty was born on 26 May 1623 in the village of Romsey, Hampshire, and died on 26 December 1687 in London. His life was hectic: son of a clothier, ...

(obsolete,_|except in set phrases) Little, small, secondary in rank or importance. ''Like a petty god I walked about, admired of all.'' (Milton, ''Samson Agonistes'', 1671) ''petty officer'', '' [..]

lang=en 1600s=1678 * '''1678''' — . ''''. *: Yea, he did hold me to it at that rate also, about a great many more things than here I relate; as, that it was a shame to sit whining and mourning unde [..]