Midget

Midget
For the car, see MG Midget or Daihatsu Midget. For the band, see Midget (band).

A midget is a short person with relatively average bodily proportions in comparison with other human beings. The term is often improperly used to describe a person with the medical condition dwarfism. The two terms are often used synonymously because both terms originate as words defining small persons. However, 'midget' is regarded as offensive to those with dwarfism by both the Restricted Growth Association (UK based support network for people of profound short-stature) and the Little People of America (the American support network), along with many other nationally based groups, advocating the rights of individuals with disabilities and dwarfing conditions.

Midget was coined in 1865 to describe an extremely short person with body proportions similar to those of a normal-sized person's.[1] P. T. Barnum indirectly helped popularize midget when he began featuring General Tom Thumb in his circus. Dwarf originally denoted people with disproportionately short limbs. 'Midget' however became linked to referencing 'dwarfs' put on display for public ridicule and sport, whereas 'dwarf' or 'dwarfism' has a more medical base.

Like many other older terms, midget has become part of popular language, although it is sometimes used in a derogatory sense.[2] When applied to a person who is very short, midget is an example of the euphemism treadmill.[3] Actor Hervé Villechaize insisted on being called a "midget" as opposed to a "little person", which irritated some dwarf activists of the time.

Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary (Merriam-Webster, 1961) defines midget in the noun form as "a very diminutive person", and in the adjective form as "like a midget in size; very diminutive", hence its usage as a synonym for "miniature", as with cars.

According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the term midget comes from midge, a sand fly, and the diminutive suffix -et.[4]

References

  1. ^ Kennedy, Dan (2005-05-23). "What is Dwarfism?". American Documentary. http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2005/bigenough/special_dwarfism_ety.html. Retrieved 2008-10-11. 
  2. ^ "OED Online". DRAFT REVISION June 2010. http://dictionary.oed.com/. Retrieved 27 November 2010. 
  3. ^ "The "M" word". Arturo Gil and GilArt Designs. http://www.arturogil.com/m_word.htm. Retrieved 2007-08-07. 
  4. ^ Harper, Douglas. "midget". Online Etymology Dictionary. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=midget. Retrieved 2008-04-03. 

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • midget — [adj] short, small baby, diminutive, knee high*, Lilliputian, miniature, minikin, pocket, teensy*, teeny*, tiny; concepts 773,779 Ant. big, giant, huge, large, tall midget [n] small person bantam, gnome, homuncule, homunculus, Lilliputian*,… …   New thesaurus

  • midget — ► NOUN 1) an extremely small person. 2) (before another noun ) extremely small: a midget submarine …   English terms dictionary

  • Midget — Midg et, n. [Dim. of midge.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) A minute bloodsucking fly. [Local, U. S.] [1913 Webster] 2. A very diminutive person having normal proportions of the body parts; compare {dwarf}. [1913 Webster +PJC] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • midget — (n.) as a type of tiny biting insect, 1839, American English, from MIDGE (Cf. midge), perhaps with dim. suffix et. Dr. Webster is in error in saying the word midge is not in use at the present day. In the neighboring Green mountain districts, one …   Etymology dictionary

  • midget — n manikin, pygmy, *dwarf, homunculus, runt …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • midget — [mij′it] n. [dim. of MIDGE] 1. a person who is much smaller than average, with head, limbs, and trunk proportionate to each other in size 2. anything very small of its kind adj. very small of its kind; miniature SYN. DWARF …   English World dictionary

  • Midget — Este artículo o sección necesita referencias que aparezcan en una publicación acreditada, como revistas especializadas, monografías, prensa diaria o páginas de Internet fidedignas. Puedes añadirlas así o avisar …   Wikipedia Español

  • Midget — Del inglés (sust.) Enano/a. (adj.) Pequeño/a, diminuto/a; en miniatura. Deportes: Autos Midget (Automovilismo) Categoría automovilística de orígenes norteamericanos, donde los autos se destacan por la ausencia de frenos y no poseer caja de… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • midget — I UK [ˈmɪdʒɪt] / US noun [countable] Word forms midget : singular midget plural midgets 1) offensive an adult who has not grown to full size. Many people now think this word is offensive and a more polite word is person of restricted growth. 2)… …   English dictionary

  • midget — midg|et1 [ˈmıdʒıt] n [Date: 1800 1900; Origin: midge] 1.) taboo a very offensive word for someone who is very short because their body has not grown normally. Do not use this word. →↑dwarf 2.) BrE informal someone who is not very tall midget 2… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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