Peewee describes something or someone very small, especially in a way that's cute or endearing. A peewee marble is the tiniest size in a set, small enough to hide under your thumb. When you call your little brother a peewee, you're noticing how small he is compared to you, though the word can be teasing as well as affectionate.

The word appears often in youth sports, where peewee leagues let the youngest kids play organized games. Peewee hockey players might be around eleven or twelve years old, still learning to improve their skating and stickhandling. Peewee football teams practice basic plays and learn the rules of the game. These leagues give children an early experience of teamwork and competition before they move into older age groups.

You might also hear about peewee versions of things: peewee golf uses tiny clubs for toddlers, and a peewee pumpkin might be palm-sized instead of basketball-sized. The word suggests something miniature but complete, like a full player in a smaller package. When something is peewee, it's the real thing, just scaled down to fit someone very young or very small.