Pissant
Apissant,also seen aspiss antorpiss-ant,refers to a specific type ofant.The word is also used as apejorativenoun or adjective, indicating insignificance.[1]
The originalpissantis any of a certain group of large antspecies,commonly calledwood ants,that make mounded nests in forests throughout most ofEurope.[2]The namepissantarises from theurine-like odour produced by their nesting material—needles and straw frompinetrees—and theformic acidthat constitutes theirvenom.[3]Formica rufais one such ant, but there are others with similar characteristics.ForeliusandIridomyrmexare two genera of piss ants.[4]In theUnited States,the wordpissantmay refer to any small ant that infests a home.[5]
Slang[edit]
Pissantis anepithetfor an inconsequential, irrelevant, or worthless person, especially one who is irritating or contemptible out of proportion to his or her perceived significance. AVirginiapolitician is said to have silenced a heckler by saying, "I'm a big dog on a big hunt and I don't have time for a piss-ant on a melon stalk".[6]
The termpiss-antalso may be used as an adjective, usually as apejorative,to mean insignificant and annoying. In conversations with his advisors during theVietnam War,U.S. PresidentLyndon B. Johnsonreferred toVietnamas "a piddling piss-ant little country".[7]In the context of incorporating a celebrity's family into the limelight, Alex Reimer, a frequent guest at Boston's radio station WEEI, calledTom Brady'sdaughter "an annoying little pissant" in January 2018 prior toSuper Bowl LII.[8]
Culture[edit]
Pissantalso may be used positively. Ron Ault of theAFL–CIOsaid, in describing the relationship of his union tothe Pentagon,"Our job is to be the irritant piss ant stinging them on their ankles at every opportunity."[9]
After being defeated 4–0 in a 2009 Australian semi-finalfootballmatch againstMelbourne Victory,Adelaide UnitedcoachAurelio Vidmar's post-match press conference became infamous when he describedAdelaideas a "pissant town", with the Adelaide media perceived to be working against him and the club. The rant gained nationwide publicity in Australia.[10]
A character inKurt Vonnegut's novelCat's Cradlehad a specific definition of a pissant as type of person:
A pissant is somebody who thinks he's so damn smart, he can never keep his mouth shut. No matter what anybody says, he's got to argue with it. You say you like something, and, by God, he'll tell you why you’re wrong to like it. A pissant does his best to make you feel like a boob all the time. No matter what you say, he knows better.[11]
Chapter 1 of Stephen King'sThe Standopens with the words:
Hapscomb's Texaco sat on Number 93 just north of Arnette, a pissant four-street burg about 110 miles from Houston.[12]
Tony StarknicknamesAnt-Mana pissant inAvengers: Endgame.
In the musicalThe Unsinkable Molly Brown,the title character says, "I'm as good as any piss ant that ever lived!" in the patter opening to the song "I Ain't Down Yet".
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^PissantArchived2011-11-08 at theWayback Machine,Merriam-Webster Dictionary
- ^"Formica polyctena (European Red Wood Ant)".Iucnredlist.org. 1996-08-01.Retrieved2013-10-22.
- ^"Take Our Word For It Issue 102".Takeourword.com. 2000-09-25.Archivedfrom the original on 2013-10-23.Retrieved2013-10-22.
- ^Kris M. Havstad,Structure and Function of a Chihuahuan Desert EcosystemArchived2016-03-02 at theWayback Machine,Oxford University PressUS, 2006, p. 256.
- ^"Pissant, Piss Ants, Small Ant Pests, Sugar Ants".Pestproducts.com.Archivedfrom the original on 2013-09-11.Retrieved2013-10-22.
- ^Epps, Garrett (January 1, 1980)."The Fourth Court of Appeals is losing a star".Style Weekly.Richmond, Virginia.Archivedfrom the original on December 3, 2013.RetrievedNovember 28,2013.
- ^Record, Jeffrey (1998).The Wrong War: Why We Lost in Vietnam.Naval Institute Press.ISBN1-55750-699-X.Archivedfrom the original on 2013-12-31.Retrieved2013-10-22.
- ^"Tom Brady ends WEEI interview, upset with remark about daughter".Boston Herald.Archivedfrom the original on 2018-02-07.Retrieved2018-02-06.
- ^Barr, Stephen (2004-08-20)."Blunt Talk on Union Web Site Spotlights Frustration Over Labor Relations Changes".Washington Post.Archivedfrom the original on 2013-12-20.Retrieved2013-10-22.
- ^Lynch, Michael; Hogan, Jesse (2009-02-15)."Adelaide feels wrath of Vidmar".The Age.Melbourne.Archivedfrom the original on 2013-12-04.Retrieved2013-10-22.
- ^PissantArchived2017-09-21 at theWayback Machinequote at Goodreads.com
- ^PissantArchived2022-01-29 at theWayback Machinequote at Goodreads.com