"little, of small size," usually of a woman or girl, 1784 (from 1712 in French phrases taken into English), from French petite, fem. of petit "little" (see petit). As a size in women's clothing, attested from 1929.
her petite figure
Peter Pan
Peter Principle
petiole
petit
petit fours
petite
petitio principii
petition
petitioner
Petrarchan
petrel