Tom Thumb

American  

noun

1. a diminutive hero of folk tales.

2. an extremely small person; dwarf.

3. General, nickname of Charles Sherwood Stratton.

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Tom Thumb British  

noun

1. General, stage name of Charles Stratton. 1838–83, US midget, exhibited in P. T. Barnum's circus

2. a dwarf; midget

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Tom Thumb Cultural  

1. A thumb-sized hero of children's stories from the sixteenth century on.

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Etymology

Origin of Tom Thumb

after Tom Thumb, the tiny hero of several English folk tales

Example Sentences

The American showman, businessman, and politician best remembered for founding the Barnum & Bailey Circus and for promoting celebrated hoaxes, such as the Feejee Mermaid, the Cardiff Giant, and Tom Thumb’s Baby.

From Salon

Tom Thumb: Most stores will have adjusted hours.

From Seattle Times

Tomatoes such as Early Girl, Roma, Health Kick and Tom Thumb are some of the common compact tomato varieties that work well for containers, he said.

From Seattle Times

Of all the fairy-tale references to draw from, she chooses to liken them to “Tom Thumb who, like the body of the Black boy, is caught inside a swallow cycle … over and over again.”

From Washington Post

“The logs documenting these practice sessions list fictitious prisoner names including ‘Wild Bill,’ ‘Con Demned,’ ‘Annie Oakley,’ ‘Doc Holliday,’ ‘Tom Thumb,’ ‘John Henry,’ and ‘Billy the Kid,’” a court filing states.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• gnome
• goblin
• gremlin
• hobgoblin
• troll