1560s, probably an adjectival use of noun paltry "worthless thing" (1550s), associated with dialectal palt, pelt "trash," cognate with Middle Low German and East Frisian palte "rag," Middle Dutch palt "broken or torn fragment." Similar formation in Low German paltrig "rubbishy," East Frisian palterig "ragged, torn."
例文
1. They suffered an electoral catastrophe,winning a paltry 3 seats.
彼らは選挙で惨敗し、取るに足らない3議席しか獲得できなかった。
2.They believe they 're playing a zero-sum game,where both must compete for the same paltry resources.