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Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
peccadillo
noun
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ Equally if one lived in a society where everybody was constantly protesting against the smallest governmental peccadillo life would become intolerable.
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Peccadillo

Peccadillo \Pec`ca*dil"lo\, n.; pl. Peccadillos. [Sp. pecadillo, dim. of pecado a sin, fr. L. peccatum. See Peccant.] A slight trespass or offense; a petty crime or fault.
--Sir W. Scott.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
peccadillo

"slight sin," 1590s (earlier in corrupt form peccadilian, 1520s), from Spanish pecadillo, diminutive of pecado "a sin," from Latin peccatum "a sin, fault, error," noun use of neuter past participle of peccare "to miss, mistake, make a mistake, do amiss; transgress, offend, be licentious, sin," perhaps literally "to stumble," from a PIE verbal root *ped- "to walk, stumble, fall," related to the root of foot (n.).

Wiktionary
peccadillo

n. 1 A small flaw or sin. 2 A petty offense.

WordNet
peccadillo
  1. n. a petty misdeed [syn: indiscretion]

  2. [also: peccadilloes (pl)]

Wikipedia
Peccadillo

Peccadillo is derived from the diminutive of the Spanish language word "pecado" meaning sin, and may refer to:

  • a minor '' misdemeanor '' especially Sexual misconduct
  • infraction of an Ethical code
  • Peccadillos, third album from American singer-song writer, Susan Herndon
  • Peccadillo Pictures, British film distributor

Usage examples of "peccadillo".

He was the son of a tailor at Venice, and became a friar, but having committed some peccadillo which got him into trouble, he was fortunate enough to be able to make his escape.

School --My First Love Affair As soon as I was left alone with the Sclavonian woman, she took me up to the garret, where she pointed out my bed in a row with four others, three of which belonged to three young boys of my age, who at that moment were at school, and the fourth to a servant girl whose province it was to watch us and to prevent the many peccadilloes in which school-boys are wont to indulge.

The story you carried to Hendon last year about an embarrassing sexual peccadillo was an invention, designed to extricate yourself from an awkward situation.

I am not at all of a jealous nature, and if you will not mind my small peccadilloes then I will look the other way while you amuse yourself.

I am always ready to forgive young folks the peccadilloes that love makes them commit.

He was moved from one PW camp to the next and finally found peace in an English camp for antifascist prisoners, for along with the usual guardhouse peccadilloes the reason for his demotion was noted in his paybook.

School --My First Love Affair As soon as I was left alone with the Sclavonian woman, she took me up to the garret, where she pointed out my bed in a row with four others, three of which belonged to three young boys of my age, who at that moment were at school, and the fourth to a servant girl whose province it was to watch us and to prevent the many peccadilloes in which school-boys are wont to indulge.

All the evil you say of yourself will be held for gospel, your peccadilloes will be made into crimes, and your good deeds will not only be received with incredulity, but you will be taxed with pride and vanity for having recorded them.

Tosa being too uninterested in the peccadillos of peasants to involve himself in this particular theft.

Despite my constant peccadilloes, my incessant debaucheries, I was an excellent student.

At this point I recalled all the peccadilloes which most troubled my conscience.

But heartily laughing at her escapades and peccadilloes all the while.

No trifling sexual peccadillo, no boyhood adventure in buggery or mutual masturbation, no incestuous snuggling with his mildly protesting mother, but rather an intellectual crime, the most damning of all.

Gozzi's School --My First Love Affair As soon as I was left alone with the Sclavonian woman, she took me up to the garret, where she pointed out my bed in a row with four others, three of which belonged to three young boys of my age, who at that moment were at school, and the fourth to a servant girl whose province it was to watch us and to prevent the many peccadilloes in which school-boys are wont to indulge.

So that by the time Makita was depurged, he had a four-inch-thick stack of folders within which were revealed the peccadillos, petty and not so petty, thievery, connivery, and outright bribery by perhaps two dozen bureaucrats of the first and second dan.