1. The little finger. Obs. exc. dial.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 308/310. Þe deuel wolde fain henten heom bi þe polle with luttle man, is leste finguer.
c. 1475. Pict. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 753/3. Hic auricularis, the lythylman.
1888. in Sheffield Gloss.
2. A small landowner or capitalist.
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.
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.
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.
3. a. Sc. (See quot. 1835.) b. (See quot. c. 1880).
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.
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 tutors).
4. pl. Fairies, little folk.
1850. Allingham, Poems, 87. Up the airy mountain Down the rushy glen, We darent go a hunting For fear of little men.