pettychaps

Meaning

Noun

• Any of several species of small European passerine songbirds, including the willow warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus), the chiffchaffs (Phylloscopus spp.), and the western Orphean warbler (Sylvia hortensis).

Origin

• Unknown. Probably imitative of the bird’s call, with influence from petty and either chap#Etymology 3 or chap#Etymology 1. Alternatively, perhaps directly from petty (in turn from Middle English pety ("tiny")) and chap#Etymology 3. Attested from the 1670s.