Midget

In the 19th century, midget was a medical term referring to an extremely short but normally-proportioned person (e.g., with growth hormone deficiency), and was used in contrast to dwarf, which denoted disproportionate shortness. Like many other older medical terms, as it became part of popular language, it was usually used in a pejorative sense. When applied to a person who is extremely short, midget is now considered derogatory. The word dwarf has generally replaced midget even for proportionally short people, and the term little person is also sometimes used. According to the Little People of America, the human definition of this term is stated as such "a medical or genetic condition that usually results in an adult height of 4'10" or shorter, among both men and women, although in some cases a person with a dwarfing condition may be slightly taller than that." See also Lilliput.

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Midget is a general term, however, and is also used, for example, to denote a class of small objects, such as a class of very small sailboats or racing cars. It also refers to certain automobile models produced by MG and Daihatsu.

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During World War II, small submarines such as the British X craft were called midget submarines.

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The term "midget" is still used within professional wrestling in lieu of more politically correct synonyms.

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19th century: :Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical)...

Growth hormone deficiency: Growth hormone deficiency is the medical condition of inadequate production of growth hormone (GH) and its effects on children and adults. Growth hormone, also called somatotropin, is a polypeptide hormone which stimulates growth and cell reproduction. See separate articles on GH physiology and GH t...

Dwarf: A dwarf is a short humanoid creature in Norse mythology, fairy tales, fantasy fiction and role-playing games. Dwarves are much like humans, but generally living underground or in mountainous areas. Here they have heaped up countless treasures of gold, silver, and precious stones, and pass their time...

Midget related Images and Photos (experimental)

Gulliver's Travels Midget Window Card 1939	Hello Everybody! Kate Smith on Midget Window Card 1933	Ex-Lady Bette Davis on Midget Window Card 1933	The Letter Bette Davis on Midget Window Card 1941
Dynamite Ranch Ken Maynard on Midget Window Card 1932	The Scoundrel Noel Coward on Midget Window Card 1935	Massacre Richard Barthelmess on Midget Window Card 1934	Pick-Up Sylvia Sidney on Midget Window Card 1933
Social Register Colleen Moore on Midget Window Card 1934	College Humor Mary Carlisle on Midget Window Card 1933	Be Mine Tonight (Aka Tell Me Tonight) Midget Window Card 1932	Way to Love Maurice Chevalier on Midget Window Card 1933