Pissant
A pissant, also seen as piss-ant has its origin the word pismire, a 14th-century term for ant.[1][2] The term is also used as an insulting noun, and a pejorative adjective.
The original pissant is any of a certain group of large ant species, commonly called wood ants, that make mounded nests in forests throughout most of Europe.[3] The name pissant arises from the urine-like odor produced by their nesting material—needles and straw from pine trees—and the formic acid that constitutes their venom.[4] Formica rufa is one such ant, but there are others with similar characteristics. It may be derived from the term pismire.[5] Forelius and Iridomyrmex are two genera of piss ants.[6] In the United States, the word pissant can refer to any small ant that infests a home.[7]
A derived meaning of the word is something that is insignificant, though the term is sometimes considered vulgar.[8]
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Slang[edit]
Pissant is an epithet for an inconsequential, irrelevant, or worthless person, especially one who is irritating or contemptible out of proportion to his or her perceived significance. A Virginia politician also popularized the term, once silencing a heckler by saying, "I'm a big dog on a big hunt and I don't have time for a piss-ant on a melon stalk."[9]
The term piss-ant can also be used as an adjective, usually as a pejorative, to mean insignificant and annoying. In conversations with his advisors during the Vietnam War, U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson referred to Vietnam as "a piddling piss-ant little country".[10]
Culture[edit]
Piss ant can also be used positively. Ron Ault of the AFL-CIO said, in describing the relationship of his union to the Pentagon, "Our job is to be the irritant piss ant stinging them on their ankles at every opportunity."[11]
After being defeated 4–0 in an Australian semi-final football (soccer) match against Melbourne Victory, Adelaide United coach Aurelio Vidmar's post-match press conference became infamous when he described Adelaide as a "pissant town".[12][13] The rant gained nation-wide publicity in Australia.[14][15]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=19990331
- ^ http://thenightwriterblog.powerblogs.com/posts/1152500340.shtml
- ^ The IUCN Redlist of Threatened Species
- ^ http://www.takeourword.com/Issue102.html#Spotlight
- ^ "1350–1400; ME pissemyre, equiv. to pisse to urinate + obs. mire ant, perh. < Scand (cf. Dan myre, Sw myra), c. D mier; pejorative name from stench of formic acid proper to ants" Dictionary.com
- ^ Kris M. Havstad, Structure and Function of a Chihuahuan Desert Ecosystem, Oxford University Press US, 2006, p. 256.
- ^ http://www.pestproducts.com/pissant.htm
- ^ Pissant, Merriam-Webster Dictionary
- ^ http://www.law.uoregon.edu/faculty/gepps/docs/unclebilly.html
- ^ Jeffrey Record, The wrong war, Naval Institute Press, 1998, p. viii,
- ^ Stephen Barr, "Blunt Talk on Union Web Site Spotlights Frustration Over Labor Relations Changes", Aug. 20, 2004.
- ^ http://www.independentweekly.com.au/news/national/national/sport/ranting-vidmar-will-keep-his-job/1434294.aspx
- ^ http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,25058444-5006068,00.html
- ^ http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/soccer/adelaide-feels-wrath-of-vidmar/2009/02/15/1234028361960.html
- ^ http://www.safm.com.au/shows/rabbitamberandcosi/show-blog//blog/aurelio-vidmar-adelaide-is-a-pissant-town/20090216-2r1y.html
External links[edit]
The dictionary definition of pissant at Wiktionary
