Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PAL'TRY, a. [Sw. palta, plur. paltor, rags; Dan. pialt, a rag; pialted, ragged; Scot. paltrie or peltrie, vile trash; It. paltone, a vagabond. It may be allied to Gr. φαυλος, vile, and to fail. Qu. Fr. piètre, a contracted word.]

Ragged; mean; vile; worthless; despicable; as, a paltry boy; a paltry slave; a paltry trifle. – Shak. Addison.