[Supposed to be named from Bantam in the north-west of Java, whence perhaps the fowls were imported to Europe, though, according to Crawford, originally from Japan.]
1. A small variety of the domestic fowl, most breeds of which have feathered legs: the cocks are spirited fighters.
1749. Mrs. Delany, Autobiog. (1861), II. 518. We fed all the bantams, guinea-fowl, pheasants.
1862. Barnes, Rhymes Dorset Dial., I. 184. Knock’d the bantam cock right down.
b. fig. in reference to small size or ‘cockiness.’
1782. Wolcott (P. Pindar), Ode R. Acad., Wks. 1812, I. 21. And struts the veriest Bantam-cock of paint.
1837. Dickens, Pickw., 469. ‘Do you always smoke arter you goes to bed, old cock?’… ‘Yes, I does, young bantam.’
1863. Burton, Bk. Hunter, 59. Those pretty little pets, the Elzevir classics, a sort of literary bantams.
2. Bantam-work: ‘a kind of Indian painting, and carving on wood, resembling Japan-work, only more gay.’ Chambers, Cycl. Supp., 1753.
