Young, such people were fairies (6)
I believe the answer is:
little
'young' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
I don't understand the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for little that I've seen before include "Pinkie" , "The Battle of ... Bighorn, Custer's last stand" , "'Every ...... helps" , "younger" , "Peanuts" .)