measly
/ˈmiːzli
/adjective (measlier, measliest) informal
Ridiculously small or few: three measly votes...
- She hated the long hours, the measly wages, the heat of the kitchen, and most of all, she hated that she never saw Noah.
- How could losing a measly five hours of sleep possibly make me this tired for the rest of the week?
- He was about six feet tall while I was a measly five.
Origin
Late 16th century (describing a pig or pork infected with measles): from measles + -y1. The current sense dates from the mid 19th century.