In 水浒传 and 金瓶梅, a short, meek seller of steamed buns, older brother of the hero 武松. His wife 潘金莲 and her lover 西门庆 poison him, and his brother avenges him.
The 炊饼 he sells is a steamed bun, nearer a 馒头 than the baked 烧饼 often shown. Song writers say it was first called 蒸饼 and renamed because 蒸 sounded like 祯, the personal name of Emperor Renzong.
usage
Calling a short man 武大郎 is a well-known jibe, and rude. The saying 武大郎开店, 'Wu Dalang opens a shop' and hires no one taller than himself, describes a boss who keeps abler people out.
