DCHP-2

bantam Bantam DCHP-2 (June 2016)

• 1 n. & adj. — Sports, Hockey

  a level of youth sports, usually ages 13-14.

  Type: 3. Semantic Change — The sports definition is an extension of the meaning of bantam as "in reference to small size or 'cockiness' " (see OED-3, s.v. "bantam" (1b)). This term is frequent in Canada in this meaning, despite the existence of boxing weight classes with this name (see Chart 1, Hockey Canada reference). Note that in Chart 1, the Australia hits (.au) refer to field hockey, as opposed to the (ice) hockey hits in the Canadian domain (.ca). The bantam chicken breed and some place names cloud the picture somewhat, yet Chart 1 manages to produce a reasonably correct assessment.
  See also COD-2, s.v. "bantam" (3), which is marked "Cdn", Gage-1, s.v. "bantam" (3), ITP Nelson, s.v. "bantam" (3), and OED-3, s.v. "bantam" (1b), W-3, s.v. "bantam" (3).

  See also: peewee  atom  espoir  novice  major junior  midget  mosquito   

• 2 n. — Sports, Hockey

  a player in such a division.

  Type: 3. Semantic Change — See meaning 1.