pavum

This is not an english word. In tamil, it can mean poor thing. It is funny as it can be overused to the point that someone constructs an entire sentence consisting of only the word itself. It can mean other things too, such as sin apparently. It can be used to simply add an image of helplessness or care. I am writing this to give a more appropriate definition than the other given for this word. As with many south indian words, they are obviously shared across many languages in south india. But, this definition should also be given, to show that there are two meanings. Pavum can become humorous if it is overused for things that really do not need it, just as how saying, "poor thing, she's a mother!" would be humorous when used as an argument for the mother's careless mistakes. It becomes humorous if it is used too much, like in cases where the person really doesn't need any pity, and is probably just making a mistake.

person one: The other day a child did a terrible job playing their instrument, and then boasted about it, trying to pretend like they were better than everybody else, and bragged about it.
person two: Pavum, oru papa! (poor thing, they're only a child)

well that doesn't make it any better, the child knows better than to brag about what was obviously a terrible performance for which they were given applause by the teacher only due to their good relationship with that teacher.

The argument of their being a child doesn't make sense when the others are also children and have to put up with someone who was only praised due to their relationship with the teacher. They know better than to laugh at people who are doing better than them, as if they are doing a better job themselves.

by ungkyan shanden September 24, 2020

pavum

A Malayalam (a language of south India) word for being innocent or humble.

Also, can sometimes refer to the less fortunate.

She is not prideful, she is so pavum.

OR

The pavum boy simply wanted a piece of candy.

by mariemyc September 24, 2010

pavement pancake

An animal that has been killed by a vehicle on the road, and has subsequently been run over so many times that it is no thicker than a pancake.

I don’t want to be the one to tell my daughter that ‘Miss Fluffy’ is now a pavement pancake.

by Wilhelm Snakesnoot January 28, 2021

Pavement Fairy

British Royal Navy slang dating from around the time of World War I. A Pavement Fairy is the name for a prostitute, whore or woman of easy virtue. The pavement part comes from these women having 'beats' on the pavement of a particular street, whilst the fairy has nothing to do with homosexuality, but possibly derives from Cinderella's Fairy Godmother who makes wishes come true.

At one time Union Street, in Plymouth UK was notorious for the numbers of pavement fairies plying their trade to give solace to soldiers, sailors and Royal Marines. There's even a rude version of the Irish folk song 'The Spanish Lady' that mentions both Plymouth and a pavement fairy:

As I walked into Plymouth City,
Union Street it was late at night,
There did I see a pavement fairy
Washing her snatch in the pale moonlight,
First she washed it then she dried it
Over a fire of red hot coal
In all my life I ne'er did see
So much singed hair round a dirty great hole.

Joe's out on the razzle tonight, but he's goin' for the pavement fairy first before he gets too pissed.

by AKACroatalin February 14, 2019

North American Pavement Ape

Antique farm equipment.

Pants sagging nappy haired black trash

It's a shame these North American Pavement Apes bring human black people down.

by TruckFrump May 21, 2018

Pavement Fairy

British Navy slang dating from around the First World War. A Pavement Fairy is the name for a prostitute or woman of easy virtue. The pavement part comes from these women having 'beats' on the pavement of a particular street, whilst the fairy has nothing to do with homosexualirty, but possibly derives from Cinderella's Fairy Godmother who makes wishes come true.
There's a rude version of the Irish folk song 'The Spanish Lady' that mentions it:

As I walked into Plymouth City,
Union Street it was late at night,
There did I see a pavement fairy
Washing her snatch in the pale moonlight,
First she washed it then she dried it
Over a fire of red hot coal
In all my life I ne'er did see
So much singed hair round a dirty great hole.

Joe's out on the razzle tonight, but he's goin' for the pavement fairy first before he gets too pissed.

by Croatalin November 23, 2013

North American Pavement Ape

A derogatory term for an American of African descent, typically who you would call "gangstas" and see in the "hood" or "ghetto." They are addressed as such since they spend most of their lives in the wild - mainly lurking in alleys and selling crack or mugging people. You can catch them off guard during the day by offering them grape soda.

Dude, did you see those niggers back there?

Be specific! Those are North American Pavement Apes!

by I_N_S_A_N_I_T_Y August 5, 2011