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Webster 1913 Edition

Petty

Pet′ty

(pĕt′ty̆)
,
Adj.
[
Com
par.
Pettier
(pĕt′tĭ-ẽr)
;
sup
erl.
Pettiest
.]
[OE.
petit
, F.
petit
; probably of Celtic origin, and akin to E.
piece
. Cf.
Petit
.]
Little; trifling; inconsiderable; unimportant; also, inferior; subordinate;
as, a
petty
fault;
petty
complaints; a
petty
prince.
Denham.
Like a
petty
god
I walked about, admired of all.
Milton.
Petty averages
.
See under
Average
.
–
Petty cash
,
money expended or received in small items or amounts.
–
Petty officer
,
a subofficer in the navy, as a gunner, etc., corresponding to a noncommissionned officer in the army.
☞ For petty constable, petty jury, petty larceny, petty treason, See
Petit
.
Syn. – Little; diminutive; inconsiderable; inferior; trifling; trivial; unimportant; frivolous.

Webster 1828 Edition

Petty

PET'TY

,
Adj.
Small; little; trifling; inconsiderable; as a petty trespass; a petty crime.
1.
Inferior; as a petty prince.
We usually write petty constable, petty jury, petty larceny, petty treason. [See Petit.]

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