picayune

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: a Spanish half real piece formerly current in the South
b
2
: something trivial

picayune

2 of 2

adjective

: of little value : paltry

Did you know?

In the 19th century, in Louisiana and other southern states, a picayune was a small coin (specifically, a Spanish half real) with a low monetary value. The coin's name derives from picaioun, a word that means "small coin" in Occitan (a language spoken in Southern France). It ultimately derives from the Occitan word pica, which means "to jingle" and which was created to mimic the sound of coins jingling. The real as a monetary unit fell out of use, however, and picayune joined two bits in the category of small amounts of money whose name eventually came to be used instead for things that are paltry and small.

Examples of picayune in a Sentence

Noun our lives don't amount to a picayune in the great scheme of things Adjective They argued over the most picayune details. the picayune ponderings of a commentator who steadfastly believes other cultures are inferior to our own
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Noun
Observers believe a flood of intervention into D.C. laws — from the sweeping to the picayune — is more likely than a total revocation of home rule (though there is a longshot bill for that, too). Cuneyt Dil, Axios, 18 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Occitan picaioun, a small coin, from picaio money, from pica to jingle, of imitative origin

First Known Use

Noun

1804, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1836, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of picayune was in 1804

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Cite this Entry

“Picayune.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/picayune. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

picayune

adjective
pic·​a·​yune
ˌpik-ē-ˈ(y)ün
: of little value : paltry
also : petty sense 3

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