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• bantam
  bantam

  noun

  a chicken of any of several varieties or breeds characterized by very small size.
• Bantam
  Bantam

  noun

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

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bantam Bantam

His bantam squads were among the best in the country and seven of his players were invited to USA Hockey’s prestigious National Team Development Program Evaluation Camps.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026

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

Behind him flew Ser Flement's purple unicorn, the brindled boar of Crakehall, the bantam rooster of Swyft, and more.

From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin

Industry legend Susan Kamil revived the imprint in 1993 under what was then called Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

Following its own precedent from the 1960s, Bantam Books v.

From Salon ● Jun. 24, 2025

Take the vertical loop to the top of the hill and stop at Trebek Open Space or Bantam Trailhead for sweeping views of Hollywood and beyond.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 7, 2025

The broadcaster, who was diagnosed with the speech condition apraxia in 2022, has pledged he will perform with the Bantam singers at Valley Parade this year.

From BBC ● Jan. 20, 2025

I also told him that the variety of corn we were eating was called Golden Bantam.

From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan

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