British informal term meaning small or tiny, often used affectionately or diminutively.
Possibly from 'little' or related to various nursery rhyme and folk song contexts where 'diddy' appears as a nonsense syllable. The word has been used in British dialect since at least the 19th century.
The word 'diddy' shows how languages create affectionate diminutives - it's similar to how 'little' became 'lil' or how many cultures use repeated syllables for small things. In British culture, calling something 'diddy' often conveys endearment rather than criticism, showing how size-related words can carry emotional warmth.
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