picayune
A small coin of the value of six-and-a-quarter centsA small coin of the value of six-and-a-quarter cents; a Spanish coin with a value of half a real; a fippenny bit.
Meaning
4 senses(Louisiana, US, especially, historical)A small coin of the value of six-and-a-quarter cents; a Spanish coin with a value of half a real; a fippenny bit.
(US, figuratively, informal)A person regarded as unworthy of respect or useless; also, something of very little value; a trifle.
(US, figuratively, informal)An argument, fact, or other issue raised (often intentionally) that distracts from a larger issue or fails to make any difference.
(US, archaic, broadly)A coin worth five cents (a nickel) or some other low value.
Origin
The noun is borrowed from southern French picaillon, pécaillon, picayon (“type of small foThe noun is borrowed from southern French picaillon, pécaillon, picayon (“type of small foreign coin; (informal, especially in the plural) cash, money”), and from its etymon Occitan picalhon, picaioun (“cheaply made Savoyan-Piedmontese coin that was rapidly demonetized; (by extension) cash, money”), probably from Occitan piquar (“to ring (bells); to knock, strike”) (referring to the clinking of coins in a pocket), originally imitative.
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