paucaladj.
/ˈpɔːkl/, U.S. /ˈpɔk(ə)l/, /ˈpɑk(ə)l/ Grammar.
Designating a number (number n. 16) or inflected form denoting more than two entities but fewer than the number denoted by the plural. Cf. trial adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > other grammatical categories or concepts > [adjective] > number > other
trial1887
paucal1930
1930 Language 6 79 In some dialects like Zaachila a bewildering number of forms have developed—a dual, a plural, and a paucal.
1964 R. H. Robins Gen. Linguistics vi. 247 A few [languages] have four [numbers], singular, dual, trial or ‘paucal’..and plural.
1973 Archivum Linguisticum 4 39 The..‘little plural’ or ‘paucal’ form xoxaat ‘a few peaches’.
1999 D. Birdsong Second Lang. Acquisition iii. 47 Imagine a language with rich Arabic template-type derivational morphology;..a rich system of deixis as in Inuit; singular, dual, paucal, and plural number; [etc.].
Derivatives
pauˈcality n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > other grammatical categories or concepts > [noun] > number > expressing more than two
paucality1966
1966 J. E. Buse in C. E. Bazell In Memory of J. R. Firth 52 These systems relate ultimately..to the activity of counting and the resultant concepts of singularity, duality, plurality, paucality and multiplicity.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1930