picayune

Meanings

Noun

• A small coin of the value of six-and-a-quarter cents; a Spanish coin with a value of half a real; a fippenny bit.
• A coin worth five cents (a nickel) or some other low value.
• A person regarded as unworthy of respect or useless; also, something of very little value; a trifle.
• An argument, fact, or other issue raised (often intentionally) that distracts from a larger issue or fails to make any difference.

Adjective

• Of little consequence; small and of little importance; petty, trivial.
• Childishly spiteful; tending to go on about unimportant things; small-minded.

Origin

• The noun is borrowed from southern French picaillon, pécaillon, picayon, and from its etymon Occitan picalhon, picaioun, probably from Occitan piquar (referring to the clinking of coins in a pocket), originally imitative.
• The adjective is derived from the noun.