bantam

Bantam is a term with several related meanings. It originally described a small breed of domestic fowl, known as bantam or banty chickens. The word comes from Bantam, a port city in Java, where small fowl were traded to Europe; the term entered English in the 17th century and broadened to other small things.

A bantam chicken is a miniature version of a standard breed. Bantams retain the general appearance of the larger birds but are smaller in size, and many varieties exist in plumage, comb type, and temperament. They are kept for exhibition, as ornamental pets, or for small-scale egg production; many hobbyists maintain mixed flocks with standard chickens.

In sports, bantamweight is a weight class used in boxing, mixed martial arts, and other combat sports. The upper limit in professional boxing is typically 118 pounds (53.5 kg). The class has a long history and has produced many notable champions across different eras and disciplines.

Bantam is also used in publishing and branding, notably Bantam Books, a major American imprint known for mass-market paperbacks established in 1945 and now part of a larger publishing group. The term persists in various contexts as a descriptor for small size or lightweight status.