Defn: The breast. In petto, in the breast; hence, in secrecy; in reserve.
PETTY Pet"ty, a. [Compar. Pettier; superl. Pettiest.] Etym: [OE. petit, F. petit; probably of Celtic origin, and akin to E. piece. Cf. Petit.]
Defn: Little; trifling; inconsiderable; also, inferior; subordinate; as, a petty fault; a petty prince. Denham. Like a petty god I walked about, admired of all. Milton. Petty averages. See under Average. — Petty cash, money expended or received in small items or amounts. — Petty officer, a subofficer in the navy, as a gunner, etc., corresponding to a noncommissionned officer in the army.
Note: For petty constable, petty jury, petty larceny, petty treason,
See Petit.
Syn. — Little; diminutive; inconsiderable; inferior; trifling; trivial; unimportant; frivolous.
PETTYCHAPS
Pet"ty*chaps, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of several species of small European singing birds of the subfamily Sylviinæ, as the willow warbler, the chiff-chaff, and the golden warbler (Sylvia hortensis).
PETTYWHIN
Pet"ty*whin, n. Etym: [Petty + whin.] (Bot.)
Defn: The needle furze. See under Needle.
PETULANCE; PETULANCY
Pet"u*lance, Pet"u*lan*cy, n. Etym: [L. petulania: cf. F. pétulance.
See Petulant.]