Bantam

Part of speech: adjective, noun

Pronunciation: /ˈbæntəm/

Definitions

1. A breed of chicken that is notably smaller and more energetic than typical fowl
2. A descriptor for individuals who are compact yet exhibit a bold or spirited demeanor
3. A type of chicken known for its diminutive size and lively behavior ; a person who is small in stature but displays courage and spirited energy

Etymology: Bantam hens are tiny chickens, and the name points to a place on the other side of the world. The word comes from Dutch "Bantam," the name of Banten, a province at the western tip of Java in Indonesia. Dutch traders in the region encountered small fowl there, and the name of the port and its surrounding area became attached to the birds they carried back to Europe. From there the word moved into English as a noun for a small domestic fowl, and later as an adjective describing something small in size. The "small but feisty" sense that dictionaries now give grew out of the birds' reputation as pugnacious little creatures, so a place name from Southeast Asia ended up describing a temperament found in a barnyard.

Synonyms: small, miniature, petite

Antonyms: large, giant