Small (?), a. [Compar. Smaller (?); superl. Smallest.] [OE. small, AS. sm$l; akin to D. smal narrow, OS. & OHG. smal small, G. schmal narrow, Dan. & Sw. smal, Goth. smals small, Icel. smali smal cattle, sheep, or goats; cf. Gr. a sheep or goat.]
1.
Having little size, compared with other things of the same kind; little in quantity or degree; diminutive; not large or extended in dimension; not great; not much; inconsiderable; as, a small man; a small river.
To compare
Great things with small.
Milton.
2.
Being of slight consequence; feeble in influence or importance; unimportant; trivial; insignificant; as, a small fault; a small business.
3.
Envincing little worth or ability; not large-minded; -- sometimes, in reproach, paltry; mean.
A true delineation of the smallest man is capable of interesting the reatest man.
Carlyle.
4.
Not prolonged in duration; not extended in time; short; as, after a small space.
Shak.
5.
Weak; slender; fine; gentle; soft; not loud.
"A still,
small voice."
1 Kings xix. 12.
Great and small,of all ranks or degrees; -- used especially of persons. "His quests, great and small." Chaucer. -- Small arms, muskets, rifles, pistols, etc., in distinction from cannon. -- Small beer. See under Beer. -- Small coal. (a) Little coals of wood formerly used to light fires. Gay. (b) Coal about the size of a hazelnut, separated from the coarser parts by screening. -- Small craft Naut., a vessel, or vessels in general, of a small size. -- Small fruits. See under Fruit. -- Small hand, a certain size of paper. See under Paper. -- Small hours. See under Hour. -- Small letter. Print., a lower-case letter. See Lower-case, and Capital letter, under Capital, a. -- Small piece, a Scotch coin worth about 2 -- Small register. See the Note under 1st Register, 7. -- Small stuff Naut., spun yarn, marline, and the smallest kinds of rope. R. H. Dana, Jr. -- Small talk, light or trifling conversation; chitchat. -- Small wares Com., various small textile articles, as tapes, braid, tringe, and the like. M�xbf;Culloch.
© Webster 1913.
Small, adv.
1.
In or to small extent, quantity, or degree; little; slightly.
[Obs.] "I wept but
small."
Chaucer. "It
small avails my mood."
Shak.
2.
Not loudly; faintly; timidly.
[Obs. or Humorous]
You may speak as small as you will.
Shak.
© Webster 1913.
Small, n.
1.
The small or slender part of a thing; as, the small of the leg or of the back.
2. pl.
Smallclothes.
[Colloq.]
Hood. Dickens.
3. pl.
Same as Little go. See under Little, a.
© Webster 1913.
Small, v. t.
To make little or less.
[Obs.]
© Webster 1913.