noun
picayune
Picayune (noun) means a small old coin worth about six and a quarter cents, equal to half a Spanish real.
noun
1
A small old coin worth about six and a quarter cents, equal to half a Spanish real.
2
A coin worth about five cents, or another coin of low value.
3
Someone seen as not worth respecting, or a thing of very little value.
4
A point, fact or other matter brought up, often on purpose, that diverts attention from a bigger issue or makes no real difference.
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Etymology
The noun is borrowed from southern French picaillon, pécaillon, picayon (“type of small foreign coin; (informal, especially in the plural) cash, money”), and from its etymon Occitan picalhon, picaioun (“cheaply made Savoyan-Piedmontese coin that was rapidly demonetized; (by extension) cash, money”), probably from Occitan piquar (“to ring (bells); to knock, strike”) (referring to the clinking of coins in a pocket), originally imitative. The adjective is derived from the noun.
Related words
Rhymes for picayune
See all rhymes for picayune →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of picayune?
"picayune" (noun) means a small old coin worth about six and a quarter cents, equal to half a Spanish real.
What is another word for picayune?
Other words for "picayune" include nothingburger, nobody, nonentity, peon, cipher, shrimp.
What are the different meanings of picayune?
"picayune" has 3 main meanings: 1. A small old coin worth about six and a quarter cents, equal to half a Spanish real; 2. A coin worth about five cents, or another coin of low value; 3. Someone seen as not worth respecting, or a thing of very little value.
