Extremely small in amount or lacking in worth; contemptibly trivial or inadequate.
From Low German paltrig meaning 'ragged, trashy,' related to Middle Low German palter meaning 'rags.' The word entered English in the 16th century, evolving from describing physical raggedness to general worthlessness.
The connection between 'paltry' and 'rags' reveals how our ancestors linked poverty of material possessions with poverty of value or significance. What's considered paltry is highly relative to context—a paltry sum to a millionaire might be life-changing to someone else.
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