1692, from fig. use of L. scintilla "particle of fire, spark, glittering speck, atom," probably from PIE *ski-nto-, from base *skai- "to shine, to gleam" (cf. Goth. skeinan, O.E. scinan "to shine").
Main Entry: scin·til·la Pronunciation: sin-'ti-l& Function: noun : a small trace or barely perceptible amount of something (as evidence supporting a position)