{ Mea"ger, Mea"gre } (?), a. [OE. merge, F. maigre, L. macer; akin to D. & G. mager, Icel. magr, and prob. to Gr. makro`s long. Cf. Emaciate, Maigre.]

1. Destitue of, or having little, flesh; lean.

Meager were his looks;
Sharp misery had worn him to the bones.

2. Destitute of richness, fertility, strength, or the like; defective in quantity, or poor in quality; poor; barren; scanty in ideas; wanting strength of diction or affluence of imagery. "Meager soil." Dryden.

Of secular habits and meager religious belief.

His education had been but meager.

3. (Min.) Dry and harsh to the touch, as chalk.

Syn. -- Thin; lean; lank; gaunt; starved; hungry; poor; emaciated; scanty; barren.

{ Mea"ger, Mea"gre }, v. t. To make lean. [Obs.]

Mea"gre (?), n. [F. maigre.] (Zoöl.) A large European sciænoid fish (Sciæna umbra or S. aquila), having white bloodless flesh. It is valued as a food fish. [Written also maigre.]

• A kind of fish.
  
• Having little flesh; lean; thin.
  
• Deficient or inferior in amount, quality or extent; paltry; scanty; inadequate; unsatisfying.
       A meagre piece of cake in one bite.