Paltry average (4)
I believe the answer is:
mean
I believe this clue is a double definition.
'paltry' is the first definition.
(thesaurus)
'average' is the second definition.
(type of average)
(Other definitions for mean that I've seen before include "purpose" , "Intend - miserly" , "Intend; unkind" , "Average or mingy" , "Unkind; average" .)