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Any connection between pet and petty?



 
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Better expression: 'two inch' vs. 'two inches' | Do we need 'do' or 'does' in these sentences?
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Any connection between pet and petty? #1 (permalink) Fri Jun 02, 2006 19:47 pm   Any connection between pet and petty?
 

Hi, is there any connection between pet and petty? I mean, a pet is a small animal and petty describes something insignificant or little too. Or is it a coincidence that they both have one syllable in common?

Thanks in advance,
Torsen

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Pet/petty #2 (permalink) Fri Jun 02, 2006 20:47 pm   Pet/petty
 

There might well be a connection between both terms!

According to an accepted theory, pet derives from 'pety' (small) in an old Scottish dialect. Petty comes from old French and is a variant of 'petit' (small, little).

Now, does that mean that, if your pet is an elephant, you cannot call it a pet?
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Better expression: 'two inch' vs. 'two inches' | Do we need 'do' or 'does' in these sentences?
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