Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - pygmy

 also pigmy  noun  (plural pygmies; also pigmies)  Etymology: Middle English pigmei, from Latin pygmaeus of a ~, dwarfish, from Greek pygmaios, from pygme fist, measure of length — more at pungent  Date: 14th century  1. often capitalized any of a race of dwarfs described by ancient Greek authors  2. capitalized any of a small people of equatorial Africa ranging under five feet (1.5 meters) in height  3.  a.  (1) an unusually small person  (2) an insignificant or unimpressive person an intellectual ~  b. something very small of its kind  • ~ adjective