1.  The little finger. Obs. exc. dial.

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c. 1290.  S. Eng. Leg., I. 308/310. Þe deuel … wolde fain henten heom bi þe polle with ‘luttle man,’ is leste finguer.

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c. 1475.  Pict. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 753/3. Hic auricularis, the lythylman.

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1888.  in Sheffield Gloss.

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  2.  A small landowner or capitalist.

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1811.  in W. Marshall, Review Repts. Board Agric., East., 88. A little man may as well have nothing allotted to him as have it so far off.

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1820.  Lamb, Elia, Ser. I. Two Races of Men. I grudge the saving of a few idle ducats, and think I am fallen into the society of lenders, and little men.

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1891.  S. C. Scrivener, Our Fields & Cities, 29. They have a very strong objection to a ‘little man’ getting three acres, or less, with or without a cow.

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  3.  a. Sc. (See quot. 1835.) b. (See quot. c. 1880).

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1835.  Carrick, Laird of Logan (1841), 153. Amongst the servants in the employment of our Scottish farmers. There is the ‘muckle man’ and the ‘little man.’

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1885.  [M. L. Macnaghten], Sketchy Mem. Eton, 16 (Barrère). Budd … sought for his footman (or ‘little man’ as was the generic term for this class of domestic at my tutor’s).

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  4.  pl. Fairies, ‘little folk.’

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1850.  Allingham, Poems, 87. Up the airy mountain Down the rushy glen, We daren’t go a hunting For fear of little men.

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