Small beer

Small beer
Small Small (sm[add]l), a. [Compar. {Smaller}; superl. {Smallest}.] [OE. small, AS. sm[ae]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. mh^lon 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. [1913 Webster]

To compare Great things with small. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

2. Being of slight consequence; feeble in influence or importance; unimportant; trivial; insignificant; as, a small fault; a small business. [1913 Webster]

3. Envincing little worth or ability; not large-minded; -- sometimes, in reproach, paltry; mean. [1913 Webster]

A true delineation of the smallest man is capable of interesting the greatest man. --Carlyle. [1913 Webster]

4. Not prolonged in duration; not extended in time; short; as, after a small space. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

5. Weak; slender; fine; gentle; soft; not loud. ``A still, small voice.'' --1 Kings xix. 12. [1913 Webster]

{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 21/4d. sterling, or about 41/2cents.

{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`Culloch. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Small beer — Beer Beer, n. [OE. beor, ber, AS. be[ o]r; akin to Fries. biar, Icel. bj?rr, OHG. bior, D. & G. bier, and possibly E. brew. [root]93, See {Brew}.] 1. A fermented liquor made from any malted grain, but commonly from barley malt, with hops or some… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • small beer — Beer Beer, n. [OE. beor, ber, AS. be[ o]r; akin to Fries. biar, Icel. bj?rr, OHG. bior, D. & G. bier, and possibly E. brew. [root]93, See {Brew}.] 1. A fermented liquor made from any malted grain, but commonly from barley malt, with hops or some… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • small beer — 1560s, originally weak beer; used figuratively of small things or trifling matters. SMALL (Cf. Small) with the meaning of low alcoholic content is attested from mid 15c …   Etymology dictionary

  • small beer — If something is small beer, it s unimportant …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • small beer — small′ beer′ n. 1) vin weak beer 2) brit. Slang. trivial matters …   From formal English to slang

  • small beer — n. 1. [Brit. Archaic] weak or inferior beer 2. Informal a person or thing of little importance …   English World dictionary

  • small beer — noun uncount MAINLY BRITISH INFORMAL SMALL POTATOES …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • small beer — ► small beer chiefly Brit. something unimportant. Main Entry: ↑small …   English terms dictionary

  • small beer — noun Date: 1568 1. weak or inferior beer 2. something of small importance ; trivia • small beer adjective …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • small beer — noun a) Beer with a low alcoholic content The income from gold plated widgets is small beer compared to the income from the standard ones. b) Something that is of relatively little importance. Syn: peanuts, small po …   Wiktionary

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