little person

English

little person (plural little people or little persons)

(euphemistic) A person with dwarfism, or short stature resulting from a medical condition.
- 2012, Vera Chouinard, Edward Hall, Robert Wilton, Towards Enabling Geographies, page 188:
  Here, the amount of personal space that is acknowledged for a little person is similar to that of a child.
(fantasy) A small magical humanoid creature, such as an elf, leprechaun, or fairy.
Synonym: small person
- 1961, Muriel Saint Clare Byrne, Elizabethan Life in Town and Country, page 285:
  His nurse had told him all about changelings, and how the little people would always try to steal a beautiful human child out of its cradle and put in its stead one of their own ailing, puking brats […]
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see little,‎ person.
- 1987 February 1, Barbara Siegel, quoting Grace the anti-abortion doll, “Move Over Barbie”, in Gay Community News, volume 14, number 28, page 2:
  I used to be a little person inside my Mommy's tummy. Now I'm all big!
- 2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (science fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Citadel:
  Shepard: I don't have time for this, Conrad. I'm not here to be a role model. / Conrad Verner: Oh, I see how it is. Commander Shepard doesn't have time for the little people! / Conrad Verner: Far be it for me to get in your way! You go be a hero.

euphemistic term for a person with dwarfism — see also dwarf

small magical humanoid