smidgen

smidgen
   a very small quantity of material. Until recently, no one thought a smidgen was an actual unit of measure, but recently kitchen supply stores in the U.S. and other countries have begun selling sets of "minispoons" in which the smallest spoon, labeled "smidgen," is designed to hold exactly 1/2 pinch or 1/32 teaspoon, which is roughly 0.005 fluid ounce or 0.15 milliliter. The word is a diminutive of "smutch" or "smudge"; it originally meant a small spot.

Dictionary of units of measurement. 2015.

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  • smidgen — 1845, perhaps from Scot. smitch very small amount, small insignificant person (1822), perhaps from smidin small syllable …   Etymology dictionary

  • smidgen — *particle, bit, mite, whit, atom, iota, jot, tittle …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • smidgen — UK / US or smidgeon UK [ˈsmɪdʒ(ə)n] / US [ˈsmɪdʒən] noun [singular] informal a very small amount of something …   English dictionary

  • smidgen — [n] tiny amount atom, chicken feed*, crumb, dab, dash, drop, fraction, fragment, grain, iota, little bit, mite, morsel, particle, pinch, scintilla, scrap, shard, shaving, shred, sliver, small amount, small bit, small quantity, speck, tad, taste,… …   New thesaurus

  • smidgen — (also smidgeon or smidgin) ► NOUN informal ▪ a tiny amount. ORIGIN perhaps from Scots smitch in the same sense …   English terms dictionary

  • smidgen — [smij′ən] n. [prob. < dial. smidge, var. of smitch, particle] Informal a small amount; bit: also sp. smidgin or smidgeon …   English World dictionary

  • smidgen — [[t]smɪ̱ʤɪn[/t]] smidgens also smidgeon, smidgin N COUNT: oft N of n A smidgen is a small amount of something. [INFORMAL] ...a smidgen of tobacco. ...a smidgeon of luck... She arrives a smidgen ahead of time …   English dictionary

  • smidgen — also smidgeon or smidgin or smidge noun Etymology: probably alteration of English dialect smitch soiling mark Date: 1845 a small amount ; bit < a smidgen of salt > < a smidgen of common sense > …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • smidgen — [“smid3n] n. a tiny bit. □ I just want a smidgen of cake. I’m on a diet. □ Oh, come on, more than a smidgen. Just a little? …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • smidgen — /smij euhn/, n. a very small amount: a smidgen of jam for your toast. Also, smidgin, smidgeon. [1835 45; orig. uncert.] * * * …   Universalium

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