puny Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite inferior in strength or significance
    • a puny physique
    • puny excuses
  2. adjective satellite (used especially of persons) of inferior size
    shrimpy; runty.

WordNet

Pu"ny adjective
Etymology
F. puîté younger, later born, OF. puisné; puis afterwards (L. post; see Post-) + né born, L. natus. See Natal, and cf. Puisne.
Wordforms
comparative Punier ; superlative Puniest
Definitions
  1. Imperfectly developed in size or vigor; small and feeble; inferior; petty.
    A puny subject strikes at thy great glory. Shak.
    Breezes laugh to scorn our puny speed. Keble.
Pu"ny noun
Definitions
  1. A youth; a novice. R. Fuller.

Webster 1913