| 释义 |
Munchkin, n. Chiefly N. Amer.|ˈmʌntʃkɪn|
Also munchkin.
In the children's fantasy The Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum (1856–1919), U.S. writer: any of a race of small, child-like creatures who help Dorothy in her quest for the city of Oz; hence used allusively for a small, mischievous, gnome-like or elfish person (chiefly affectionately).
Public awareness of the Munchkins increased after the release of the film version of the story in 1939.
1900L. F. Baum Wonderful Wizard of Oz ii. 21 You are welcome..to the land of the Munchkins. Ibid. 26 Her tears seemed to grieve the kind-hearted Munchkins for they immediately took out their handkerchiefs and began to weep also. 1939St. Nicholas Aug. 37/3 Nearly all the midgets in the United States, 116, were recruited and costumed and given gaily colored wigs and beards to play the Munchkins... Few are taller than three feet. 1967Sunday Bull. (Philadelphia) 9 July i. 4/2 The Munchkins gathered yesterday on the eastern slope of one of Chester County's rolling hills, and ate fried honeybees and squealina. 1976M. Machlin Pipeline xxviii. 325 The meeting consisted only of Marge, Sonia, Ernie Mason—the poetic munchkin—and Eli Hurwood. 1983Times 10 Sept. 20 One of President Reagan's aides..described a woman who left the President's employ as a ‘Low-level munchkin’—a munchkin being a little creature in the Wizard of Oz. |