bantam
Small but scrappy
Bantam refers to a small variety of domestic chicken, typically about a quarter the size of standard breeds.
The word extends to anything notably small but spirited, especially in sports where bantamweight denotes one of the lighter competitive classes in boxing and wrestling.
As an adjective, bantam characterizes someone or something diminutive yet feisty or aggressive: a bantam rooster of a man who wouldn't back down from anyone.
The connotation is usually of scrappy confidence despite small stature.
Domestic fowl for eating
- roosterMale domestic fowl
- henFemale fowl
- chickYoung bird, especially poultry
- cockerelMale chicken, not mature
fowl · coop · brood · egg · feather · pecking · cluck · comb
Bird bred for combat
- cockfightingStaged rooster combat
- spurIncentive or heel device
- pitFruit's hard seed
- breederOne who raises stock
bloodline · mains · derby · gaff · hackle · conditioning · handler · strain
Limited in size
- tinyExtremely small in size
- miniatureReduced-scale representation
- diminutiveVery small, or nickname form
- petiteSmall and delicate
pint-sized · little · compact · mini · dwarf · undersized · wee · small-scale
Aggressively spirited despite odds
- pugnaciousInclined to quarrel
- combativeInclined toward conflict
- spiritedFull of vim
- spunkyCourageous and lively
plucky · bold · aggressive · tenacious · gutsy · fiery · truculent · assertive
Lightest boxing division
- featherweightBoxing class under 126
- lightweightLacking mass or importance
- ringClosed curve shape
- glovesHand coverings with fingers
bout · punch · knockout · jab · uppercut · sparring · rounds · referee
One excluded from group
- longshotUnlikely to succeed
- darkhorseUnlikely winner, previously unknown
- challengerOne competing against incumbent
- minnowSmall freshwater fish
overlooked · unlikely · giant-killer · David · scrapper · upstart · contender
chicken
Domestic fowl for eating
cockerel · fowl · coop · brood · egg · feather · pecking · cluck · comb · wattle
gamecock
Bird bred for combat
- cockfightingStaged rooster combat
- spurIncentive or heel device
- pitFruit's hard seed
breeder · bloodline · mains · derby · gaff · hackle · conditioning · handler · strain
small
Limited in size
- tinyExtremely small in size
- miniatureReduced-scale representation
- diminutiveVery small, or nickname form
petite · pint-sized · little · compact · mini · dwarf · undersized · wee · small-scale · pocket-sized
scrappy
Aggressively spirited despite odds
- pugnaciousInclined to quarrel
- combativeInclined toward conflict
- spiritedFull of vim
spunky · plucky · bold · aggressive · tenacious · gutsy · fiery · truculent · assertive · mettlesome
flyweight
Lightest boxing division
- featherweightBoxing class under 126
- lightweightLacking mass or importance
- ringClosed curve shape
gloves · bout · punch · knockout · jab · uppercut · sparring · rounds · referee · title
outsider
One excluded from group
- longshotUnlikely to succeed
- darkhorseUnlikely winner, previously unknown
- challengerOne competing against incumbent
minnow · overlooked · unlikely · giant-killer · David · scrapper · upstart · contender
bantamheavyweight
Highest combat weight class
super heavyweight · giant · hulk · colossus · behemoth