petty

The story

1. Old French · derived frompeti
2. Middle French · derived frompetit
3. Anglo-Norman · derived frompetit
4. Middle English · inherited frompeti
5. English todaypetty

The adjective is derived from Middle English peti, pety (“little, small; minor”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman petit, Middle French petit, and Old French peti, petit, pitet (“young; little, small; inferior; insignificant”) (modern French petit), ultimately of imitative origin. It is no longer thought that the word is derived from Celtic. Doublet of petit and petite. The noun is derived from the adjective.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 16th c. Having little or no importance.
• from 16th c. Of persons or their behaviour: marked by or reflective of undesirably limited interests, sympathies, or views; begrudging, selfish, small-minded; also, preoccupied with subjects having little or no importance and not mindful of broader concerns.