By a small amount at a time; in stages: articles acquired piecemeal.
In pieces; apart.
adj. Accomplished or made in stages.
[Middle English pecemeale : pece, piece; see piece + -mele, by a fixed measure (from Old English -mǣlum, at a time, from dative pl. of mǣl, appointed time; see mē-2 in Indo-European roots).]