noun
munchkin
MUNCH-kin/ˈmʌntʃkɪn/
One of the small people in the fictional land of Oz.
A munchkin tips his hat to Dorothy beside the yellow brick road.
Etymology
Baum coined Munchkin in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz but never explained its formation. The affectionate term for a small child reuses that literary coinage.
In context
>> We got a little munchkin on the way. >> I'm excited because we're getting our girl a little nervous, too.
More examples
- The children dress as munchkins for the school play.
- Dorothy asks a munchkin how to reach the Emerald City.
- In the story, the munchkins live in eastern Oz.
Forms
munchkin · munchkins