小柄
こがら · kogara · JLPT N1 · na-adj
small
小 = small + 柄 = build or frame (body build), so 小柄 = small build
柄 here means a person's build or frame, as in 体格. Put together, 小柄 literally means small-framed, and it is used mainly for people who are petite or slight of build.
小 — three small strokes around a central vertical
小 is a pictograph originally showing three tiny dots or specks, suggesting small particles or grains. Over time the dots became stylized strokes flanking a central line. The core meaning 'small' has stayed remarkably stable from oracle bone script to today.