Munchkins

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A term often used to describe small, whimsical beings or children, often evoking a sense of playfulness and innocence
2. A colloquial reference to petite individuals or diminutive creatures, commonly associated with fantasy or fairy tales; the word is also used affectionately for youngsters
3. Denoting little ones or small figures, this expression blends a sense of charm and endearment, particularly in contexts involving youth or fantasy narratives

Etymology: L. Frank Baum coined "munchkin" in 1900 for his novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and the word was made for a specific group of characters: the small, cheerful inhabitants of Munchkin Country in the East. Baum was an American writer, and the novel gave the word its first recorded use. The plural "munchkins" is simply the form used for that group of people. The origin of the word itself is uncertain. It may reflect German "Mensch" (person), or the English "munch" combined with the diminutive suffix "-kin", as in "lambkin" or "napkin". Low German has similar-looking words such as "Menschken" and "Minschken", which may be related. Baum's invention drew on these possibilities, but no single source is settled. Decades later, the word took on a new life outside fiction. Dunkin' used "Munchkins" as a trademark for its bite-sized doughnut holes, and the name became so familiar that many people now use it as a generic term for those small treats.

Synonyms: little people, kids

Antonyms: adults