paltry

Meaning

Adjective

• Trashy, trivial, of little value.
• Of little monetary worth.
• Despicable

Origin

• From Middle Low German paltrig ("ragged, rubbishy, worthless"), from palter, palte, from Old Saxon *paltro, *palto, from Proto-Germanic *paltrô, *paltô. 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.