The Collaborative International Dictionary
Small \Small\ (sm[add]l), a. [Compar. Smaller; superl. Smallest.] [OE. small, AS. sm[ae]l; akin to D. smal narrow, OS. & OHG. smal small, G. schmal narrow, Dan. & Sw. smal, Goth. smals small, Icel. smali smal cattle, sheep, or goats; cf. Gr. mh^lon a sheep or goat.]
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Having little size, compared with other things of the same kind; little in quantity or degree; diminutive; not large or extended in dimension; not great; not much; inconsiderable; as, a small man; a small river.
To compare Great things with small.
--Milton. Being of slight consequence; feeble in influence or importance; unimportant; trivial; insignificant; as, a small fault; a small business.
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Envincing little worth or ability; not large-minded; -- sometimes, in reproach, paltry; mean.
A true delineation of the smallest man is capable of interesting the greatest man.
--Carlyle. Not prolonged in duration; not extended in time; short; as, after a small space.
--Shak.-
Weak; slender; fine; gentle; soft; not loud. ``A still, small voice.'' --1 Kings xix. 12. Great and small,of all ranks or degrees; -- used especially of persons. ``His quests, great and small.'' --Chaucer. Small arms, muskets, rifles, pistols, etc., in distinction from cannon. Small beer. See under Beer. Small coal.
Little coals of wood formerly used to light fires.
--Gay.-
Coal about the size of a hazelnut, separated from the coarser parts by screening.
Small craft (Naut.), a vessel, or vessels in general, of a small size.
Small fruits. See under Fruit.
Small hand, a certain size of paper. See under Paper.
Small hours. See under Hour.
Small letter. (Print.), a lower-case letter. See Lower-case, and Capital letter, under Capital, a.
Small piece, a Scotch coin worth about 21/4d. sterling, or about 41/2cents.
Small register. See the Note under 1st Register, 7.
Small stuff (Naut.), spun yarn, marline, and the smallest kinds of rope.
--R. H. Dana, Jr.Small talk, light or trifling conversation; chitchat.
Small wares (Com.), various small textile articles, as tapes, braid, tringe, and the like.
--M`Culloch.
Usage examples of "small piece".
This half loaf was accompanied, while our Government was allowed to furnish rations, with a small piece of corned beef.
The adders and ropes were reduced to a small piece of rope fastened to the stump of the mast.
At the cost of enormous risks one is entitled, at least, to a small piece of immortality.
He had a small piece of paper which he was now stuffing into one of his many pockets (although he didn't have nearly as many as Scraliontis).
The brutal indifference of the rejoinder suited his humour, and, with a glance at Vickers, he took a small piece of cavendish from the pocket of his pea-jacket, and gave it to the recaptured convict.
Her plate now overflowed with balls of pastry, so Louise captured one small piece between two blade-like red fingernails, and placed it on the tip of her tongue.
The small piece of ordnance planted by Rosworm on Smithy Bank did considerable execution.
Opening it, he withdrew a small piece of vellum and writing equipment.
I expected John to have a little more bounce to his step, but he seemed deflated, as if he'd left some small piece of himself in that hotel room.