WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Pet"ty
Part of Speech : a.
Etymology : [OE. petit, F. petit; probably of Celtic origin, and akin to E. piece. Cf. Petit.]
Definition : Defn: Little; trifling; inconsiderable; also, inferior; subordinate; as, a petty fault; a petty prince. Denham. Like a petty god I walked about, admired of all. Milton. Petty averages. See under Average. -- Petty cash, money expended or received in small items or amounts. -- Petty officer, a subofficer in the navy, as a gunner, etc., corresponding to a noncommissionned officer in the army.

Note: For petty constable, petty jury, petty larceny, petty treason, See Petit.

Syn. -- Little; diminutive; inconsiderable; inferior; trifling; trivial; unimportant; frivolous.

[Compar. Pettier; superl. Pettiest.]
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913