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smidgen

or smid·gin, smid·geon

[smij-uh n]
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noun
  1. a very small amount: a smidgen of jam for your toast.
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Origin of smidgen

First recorded in 1835–45; origin uncertain
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for smidgen

Historical Examples

  • They dove underwater to the soft river bed, Onto darkish green plants with a smidgen of red.

    FreeChildrenStories.com Collection

    Daniel Errico

British Dictionary definitions for smidgen

smidgen

smidgin

noun
  1. informal a very small amount or part
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Word Origin

C20: of obscure origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for smidgen

n.

1845, perhaps from Scottish smitch "very small amount; small insignificant person" (1822). Cf. Northumbrian dialectal smiddum "small particle of lead ore" (1821).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper