pic·a·yune

(pĭk′ə-yo͞on′)

adj. 1. Of little value or importance; paltry. See Synonyms at Of little value or importance; paltry. See Synonyms at trivial 2. Petty; small-minded: "It had seemed picayune to get all bent out of shape organizing the household chores" (Barbara Kingsolver).

n. 1. A Spanish-American half-real piece formerly used in parts of the southern United States. 2. A five-cent piece. 3. Something of very little value; a trifle: not worth a picayune.

[Louisiana French picaillon , small coin, from French, from Provençal picaioun , from picaio , money, perhaps from Old Provençal piquar , to jingle, clink, from Vulgar Latin *piccāre , to pierce; see pique.]

pic′a·yun′ish adj.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.