First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
pittance
noun pit·tance \ˈpi-tən(t)s\
: a very small amount of money
Full Definition of PITTANCE
: a small portion, amount, or allowance; also : a meager wage or remuneration
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Origin of PITTANCE
Middle English pitance, from Anglo-French, piety, pity, dole, portion, from Medieval Latin pietantia, from pietant-, pietans, present participle of pietari to be charitable, from Latin pietas piety — more at pity
Related to PITTANCE
- Synonyms
- chicken feed [slang], chump change, dime, hay, peanuts, pin money, mite, shoestring, song, two cents
- Antonyms
- big buck(s), boodle, bundle, fortune, king's ransom, megabuck(s), mint, wad
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