Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Paltry \Pal"try\, a. [Compar. {Paltrier}; superl. {Paltriest}.]
   [Cf. Prov. E. paltry refuse, rubbish, LG. paltering ragged,
   palte, palter, a rag, a tatter, Dan. pialt, Sw. palta, pl.
   paltor.]
   Mean; vile; worthless; despicable; contemptible; pitiful;
   trifling; as, a paltry excuse; paltry gold. --Cowper.

         The paltry prize is hardly worth the cost. --Byron.

   Syn: See {Contemptible}.

Source : WordNet®

paltry
     adj 1: not worth considering; "he considered the prize too paltry
            for the lives it must cost"; "piffling efforts"; "a
            trifling matter" [syn: {negligible}, {trifling}]
     2: contemptibly small in amount; "a measly tip"; "the company
        donated a miserable $100 for flood relief"; "a paltry
        wage"; "almost depleted his miserable store of dried
        beans" [syn: {measly}, {miserable}]
     [also: {paltriest}, {paltrier}]

paltriest
     See {paltry}