munchkin

American  

[muhnch-kin] / ˈmʌntʃ kɪn /

noun

(often initial capital letter)

1. a small person, especially one who is dwarfish or elfin in appearance.

2. Informal. a child.

   The munchkins enjoyed holding and feeding the animals in the petting zoo.

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munchkin British  

/ ˈmʌntʃkɪn /

noun

1. informal an undersized person or a child, esp an appealing one

2. a breed of medium-sized cat with short legs

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Etymology

Origin of munchkin

After the Munchkins, a dwarflike race portrayed in L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) and other fantasy novels

Example Sentences

The munchkin breed—the corgi of cats—is proof that short-legged cats can exist.

From Slate • Oct. 23, 2023

The production, which also stars Cynthia Erivo, Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Yeoh, features a huge film set complete with munchkin village and yellow brick road.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2023

Nicole, a munchkin, and Mickey, the scarecrow, talked for hours while painting a backdrop of the Wicked Witch’s crows.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 6, 2022

One day, Eastman’s young daughter, Heather, a bob-haired munchkin, whirls aimlessly about the studio.

From New York Times • Dec. 8, 2021

Sitti stroked her face saying, “Ya Habibi, Habibti,” cackling like a giddy munchkin.

From "Habibi" by Naomi Shihab Nye