bantam

¹ American  

[ban-tuhm] / ˈbæn təm /

noun

1. (often initial capital letter) a chicken of any of several varieties or breeds characterized by very small size.

2. a small and feisty or quarrelsome person.

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adjective

1. diminutive; tiny.

   bantam editions of the classics.

   Synonyms:

   Lilliputian, pygmy, wee, petite, small, miniature

Bantam ² American  

[ban-tuhm, bahn-tahm] / ˈbæn təm, bɑnˈtɑm /

noun

1. a village in W Java, in S Indonesia: first Dutch settlement in the East Indies.

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bantam British  

/ ˈbæntəm /

noun

1. any of various very small breeds of domestic fowl

2. a small but aggressive person

3. boxing short for bantamweight

4. 1. an age level of between 13 and 15 in amateur sport, esp ice hockey

   2. ( as modifier )

      bantam hockey

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Etymology

Origin of bantam

1740–50; apparently after Bantam, through which such chickens may have been imported to Europe

Example Sentences

In March 2023, the bantam hen from Michigan was crowned the world's oldest living chicken by Guinness World Records.

From DOGO News • Sep. 19, 2023

Barnes grew up in Eastvale, just an hour from Los Angeles, and played for bantam and junior teams supported by the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 19, 2022

My bantam, Emmylou, likes to lay her eggs in the yard where I can’t find them.

From Washington Post • May 9, 2022

What they want are players such as 15-year-old Paula Martínez, one of two girls in the bantam age group — and one 270 girls playing hockey nationwide, according to the federation.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2022

“The only one with bantam White Leghorns in this area was Jim Brown. Well, aside from Redwood Farm.”

From "Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer" by Kelly Jones