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pittance

 - 3 dictionary results

pit⋅tance

  [pit-ns]
Use pittance in a Sentence
–noun
1. a small amount or share.
2. a small allowance or sum, as of money for living expenses.
3. a scanty income or remuneration.
Origin:
1175–1225; ME pitaunce < OF pitance, var. of pietance piety, pity, allowance of food (in a monastery). See pity, -ance
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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pit·tance   (pĭt'ns)   
n.  

  1. A meager monetary allowance, wage, or remuneration.

  2. A very small amount: not a pittance of remorse.


[Middle English pitance, from Old French, allowance of food to a monk or poor person, from Medieval Latin pietantia, from *pietāns, *pietant-, present participle of *pietāre, to show compassion, from Latin pietās, piety; see pity.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

pittance 
c.1225, "pious donation to a religious house or order to provide extra food," from O.Fr. pitance "portion of food allowed a monk or poor person by a pious bequest," lit. "pity," from pitié (see pity). Meaning "small amount, portion" first recorded 1561.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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