piecen.

Brit.

/piːs/, U.S.

/pis/

Forms: Middle English besys (plural, transmission error), Middle English pecche, Middle English peche, Middle English pees, Middle English pise, Middle English pyce, Middle English pyese, Middle English pyesse, Middle English–1500s pease, Middle English–1500s pese, Middle English–1500s peyse, Middle English–1500s pyece, Middle English–1500s pyse, Middle English–1600s pece, Middle English–1600s peese, Middle English–1600s pes, Middle English–1600s pesse, Middle English–1600s pice, Middle English–1700s peace, Middle English–1700s (1800s– regional) peece, Middle English– piece, 1500s peac, 1500s péece, 1500s pess, 1500s peyce, 1500s peyss, 1500s pyeace, 1500s pys, 1500s pysse, 1500s–1600s peise, 1500s–1800s peice, 1600s peecs (plural), 1600s peics (plural), 1700s peicees (plural), 1900s– pièce (in sense 4b); English regional 1800s– pace (Leicestershire), 1800s– peace (Lincolnshire), 1800s– peus (Berkshire); Scottish pre-1700 pace, pre-1700 peac, pre-1700 peace, pre-1700 peaceise (plural), pre-1700 peaceises (plural), pre-1700 peaceses (plural), pre-1700 peas, pre-1700 peax, pre-1700 pec, pre-1700 pecce, pre-1700 pece, pre-1700 peic, pre-1700 peicies (plural), pre-1700 peis, pre-1700 peise, pre-1700 peiss, pre-1700 peisse, pre-1700 peix, pre-1700 pes, pre-1700 pese, pre-1700 pesse, pre-1700 peyce, pre-1700 peys, pre-1700 piec, pre-1700 pies, pre-1700 pis, pre-1700 piss, pre-1700 pisse, pre-1700 1700s peice, pre-1700 1700s pice, pre-1700 1700s– peece, pre-1700 1700s– piece, 1700s (1800s Shetland) pees. N.E.D. (1906) also records a form late Middle English peyce. Also (in early modern English) represented by the abbreviations pce, pec. (with point).

Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French piece.

Etymology: < Anglo-Norman peece, pees, peice, Anglo-Norman and Old French pece, Old French pice, Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French piece, French pièce a portion of time or space (late 10th cent.), separate or detached part (c1100), period of time, a while (c1139), part of a way or distance (c1160), piece or length of cloth (12th cent. or earlier), district of land (c1230), portion of food (late 13th cent.), scrap of cloth for patching (c1265), standard quantity, especially of wine (1268 of fruit, 1322 of wine), section of a heraldic shield (1276), coin (late 13th or early 14th cent. in piece d'or, c1298 in piece d'argent), item (14th cent.), part of a whole (1344, also spec. of armour), heavy firearm (c1490; 1456 in the phrase piece d'armes), chesspiece (1559), literary composition (1532), drama (1599), painting (1625 in pièce de peinture), musical composition (1636; 1625 in pièce de musique). The Romance forms point to unattested post-classical Latin forms *pettia, *pettium: compare post-classical Latin pecia, petia (also pecium, petium) ‘broken piece, fragment’, also ‘piece of land’. Ultimate origin uncertain: see note below. Compare Old Occitan pessa (Occitan pèça) bit (of bread) (c1070 as pecza), period of time, a while (c1150), Catalan peça piece of land (1041 as pecia), piece of cloth (1071), length of cloth (1271), period of time, a while (13th cent.), Spanish pieza, †pieça piece of land (958 in a Latin text), period of time, a while (c1200), coin (c1240), fragment (1240–50), patch, piece of cloth, head of cattle, room (all early 15th cent.), chesspiece (1497 or earlier), Portuguese peça, Italian pezza plot of land (1253 as pecia), prefabricated length of textile material (1263), piece of cloth in general (a1292), patch (14th cent.), portion of space or time (1314), part of a heraldic shield (a1348), pezzo separate or detached part (1268), portion of space or time (a1342), part of a machine (15th cent.), piece of ordnance (1554).Post-classical Latin pecia , in the sense ‘fragment’, occurs in the Salic Law (MSS 5 and 6, c800) lx, (Ibi iiii Fustes alninos super caput suum frangere debet et illos in quattuor pecias [earlier and later recensions partes] per quattuor angulos iactare debet, ‘There he is to break four alderwood cudgels over his head and throw them in four parts into the four corners’); petia , petium , in sense ‘piece of land’ (see sense 3), appear in Muratori Ant. Ital. a.d. 730 ‘et alia petia’, 757 ‘uno petio de terra’ (Diez); see also many later post-classical Latin instances in Du Cange. Further senses of post-classical Latin pecia include piece of ordnance (1360, 1381 in British sources; compare sense 7), piece of plate (frequently 1202–1517 in British sources, also pecia argentea , pecia argenti ; compare sense 7), measure of cloth (frequently 1226–1483 in British sources; compare sense 4a), quantity of wine (13th cent.; compare sense 4b), piece in heraldry (1433; compare sense 13), head of cattle (from 14th cent. in British and continental sources; compare sense 8). Compare also post-classical Latin pecia artelariae piece of artillery (1489; compare quot. 1563 at sense 7), pecia plumbi pig of lead (1267, 1322 in British sources; compare sense 4c), pecia aurea (1475 in a British source), pecia auri (13th cent., 1539 in British sources) gold coin (compare sense 1b). The Romance words are often compared with Old Welsh, Welsh peth thing, affair, matter, (usually derog.) person, Middle Breton pez piece, share (Breton pezh ) and the place-name element Pit- portion of land ( < a Pictish base ( > Scottish Gaelic †pett (12th cent. in the Book of Deer), only in place names)) probably < the same Celtic base as Early Irish cuit portion, share (Irish cuid ), further etymology uncertain. The suggestion is that the underlying Latin word may have been borrowed from an unattested Gaulish cognate of these words. With sense 9a compare Old French piece d'omme (mid 13th cent.; Middle French pièce d'homme ), also Old French piece de saten , insult (c1180). In sense 14h probably partly shortened < masterpiece n. With piece of water (see sense 1a) compare French pièce d'eau natural or artificial decorative pond (1694). With armed of all pieces (see sense 11a) compare Middle French, French armé de toutes pièces (c1500; 1461 as armé de toute pièce ), also arré et aparillé de toutes pièces (14th cent.). With piece of eight (see sense 16b) compare Spanish pieza de á ocho (1605), also peso de á ocho reales (1563), real de á ocho (1576). With to take to pieces (see Phrases 2a) compare Middle French, French †mettre par pièces (c1370), also mettre en pièces , first attested in sense ‘to massacre’ (1534). With to fall to pieces (see Phrases 2d) compare Middle French, French †tomber par pièces (of a person with e.g. leprosy) to fall to pieces slowly (1553), French tomber en pièces to fall to pieces (1640). With piece by piece (see Phrases 5a) compare French pièce à pièce (c1230 in Old French). With in one piece , of one piece (see Phrases 7) compare Middle French, French d'une pièce in one piece (1494–8). With all of a piece (see Phrases 8c) compare French tout d'une pièce in one piece (late 12th cent. in Old French as tote d'une piece). In Middle English and Older Scots sometimes unchanged in the plural.

I. In general sense, or with of indicating the substance or material concerned.

1. A portion or quantity of a substance.A piece may be a portion of a larger mass, but the concept is rather of a quantity of the substance forming one body of finite dimensions (large or small), this being regarded as a separate part of the whole existing stock of the substance (or of a non-material thing spoken of as a substance).

a. A portion or quantity of a substance or kind of matter, forming a single, usually small, body or mass; a bit. Also figurative. piece of water n. a lake, pond, etc.

(a) Without complement or with of.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > part of whole > [noun] > a separate part > a piece or bit

stitchc825

piecec1230

nookc1300

crotc1330

gobbetc1330

batc1340

lipe1377

gobbona1387

bladc1527

goblet1530

slice1548

limb1577

speild1653

swatch1697

frustum1721

nib1877

c1230 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 131 A lute clut mei ladlechin swiðe a muchel hal pece [a1250 Nero peche; ?c1225 Cleo. mantel].

1311–12 in J. T. Fowler Extracts Acct. Rolls Abbey of Durham (1898) I. 9 (MED) vj peces de sturgun.

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) Job xix. 24 Who ȝyueth to me þat my woordis be writen? Who ȝyueth to me þat þei be grauen in a booc with an iren poyntel or with a pece [a1425 L.V. plate; L. lamina] of lede?

c1400 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Trin. Cambr. R.3.14) (1960) A. vii. 297 (MED) May no penyale hem paye ne no pece of bacoun.

1481–2 in E. Hobhouse Church-wardens' Accts. (1890) 112 (MED) For mete and drynke at the hawsyng of a pece of tymber into the steple, ix.

c1595 Capt. Wyatt in G. F. Warner Voy. R. Dudley to W. Indies (1899) 26 Our Generall caused our Queenes armes to be drawne on a peece of lead.

1698 J. Norris Pract. Disc. Divine Subj. IV. 384 Like a red-hot peice of Iron upon an Anvil.

1748 Defoe's Tour Great Brit. (ed. 4) II. 218 In the Middle of a large Octagon Piece of Water, stands an Obelisk of near 70 Feet.

1789 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 79 272 I pasted a piece of leather apron upon a thin flat piece of wood.

1831 Edinb. Rev. Jan. 366 The scrawl of the Jew on the back of a piece of paper.

1878 T. H. Huxley Physiography (ed. 2) 72 The heat of the sun which quietly steals vapour from every exposed piece of water.

1998 Pittsburgh Post-Gaz. (Nexis) 19 Oct. d1 You fold a piece of green fabric in half and cut a hole for the head.

(b) Scottish and Irish English. With complement, without of.

ΚΠ

1508 in J. Stuart Extracts Council Reg. Aberdeen (1844) I. xxi iiii pece wax.

1629 in G. F. Black Examples Folk-lore Orkney & Shetland (1901) 107 Ye..sought ane peice colop.

1681 S. Colvil Mock Poem ii. 8 There a piece Beef, there a piece Cheese lyes.

1876 S. R. Whitehead Daft Davie (1894) 205 (E.D.D.) She had a piece bread and cheese in her pouch.

1932 A. H. Charteris When Scot Smiles 248 There's no her bate in Glesca at a drope soup, or a piece fish!

1953 M. Traynor Eng. Dial. Donegal 211/2 A piece bread and butter.

b. A portion of gold, silver, etc., made into a coin. Also piece of money.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > money > medium of exchange or currency > coins collective > [noun] > a coin

minteOE

crossc1330

coinc1386

cross and (or) pilea1393

penny1394

croucha1420

penny1427

piece1472

metal1485

piecec1540

stamp1594

quinyie1596

cross and pilea1625

numm1694

ducat1794

bean1811

dog1811

chinker1834

rock1837

pocket-burner1848

spondulicks1857

scale1872

chip1879

ridge1935

1472 in W. Fraser Douglas Bk. (1885) III. 57 [Forcibly taken] out of his kyst..twelfe pecys of syluyr, [etc.].

1526 Bible (Tyndale) Matt. xxvi. 15 And they apoynted vnto hym [sc. Judas] thyrty peces of syluer [ Wyclif 1382 thritti platis of seluer, 1388 thretti pans of siluer].

1540 Act 32 Hen. VIII c. 14 A piece of flemmishe money called an Englyshe.

1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. lvij^v His Purse..chatcheth vp the other thinkyng to haue a pece of money.

1611 Bible (King James) 2 Kings v. 5 Hee departed, and tooke with him ten talents of siluer, and sixe thousand pieces of gold.

1675 T. Brooks Golden Key 302 Look, as the worth and value of many pieces of Silver, is to be found in one piece of Gold.

1726 J. Swift Gulliver I. i. ii. 46 My Purse with nine large Pieces of Gold.

1796 S. Pegge Anonymiana (1809) 460 Thirteen-pence halfpenny is Hangman's wages, because there was a piece of money of this sort..brought to us by James the First.

1841 E. W. Lane tr. Thousand & One Nights III. 6 I..amassed three thousand pieces of silver.

1874 Times 29 Apr. 7/6 He saw Mr. Cave shake hands with Kingdon, and then..distinctly saw two pieces of gold in his hand.

1912 J. Conrad Secret Sharer ii, in 'Twixt Land & Sea 153 I produced a large old silk handkerchief of mine, and tying the three pieces of gold in a corner, pressed it on him.

1995 E. Toman Dancing in Limbo ii. 58 The money for the bunting, what was left of it, lay like thirty pieces of silver on the counter.

c. An item of artistic composition.

ΚΠ

1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes ii. f. 127^v And also this piece of Homere his verse.

1584 G. Peele Araygnem. Paris iii. v. p. i My boy, I will instruct thee in a peece of poetrie, That happly erst thou hast not heard.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Twelfth Night (1623) ii. iv. 2 Giue me some Musick..that peece of song, That old and Anticke song we heard last night.

1683 Inventory Donibristle 9–10 May Ane peece of landskipe in a light wooden frame.

1761 T. Warton Life Bathurst 218 [Dr. Bathurst's] programma, on preaching..is an agreeable and lively piece of writing.

1824 T. F. Dibdin Libr. Compan. 589 The author of several very rare and not incurious pieces of poetry.

1852 H. B. Stowe Uncle Tom's Cabin I. xvi. 255 He sat down to the piano, and rattled a lively piece of music.

1914 J. Joyce Dubliners 165 Mr Crofton said that it was a very fine piece of writing.

1995 DJ 6 July 61/4 A collaboration of weird electronic noises that meld together into a single flowing piece of music.

d. colloquial (originally U.S.). With of. A share or financial stake in a business, project, etc. Frequently as a piece of the action at action n. Phrases 5a.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > financial dealings > [noun] > financial interest or share

subscription1671

concern1748

piece1900

a piece (also share) of the action1938

1900 C. L. Cullen Taking Chances 150 Now, w'y couldn't I ha' got a piece o' dat!

1929 Theatre Mag. June 33/3 Piece, share. As ‘A piece of the show’, a financial share in the production.

1940 J. O'Hara Pal Joey 66 He owns a piece of the room [sc. nightclub] where I sing in.

1961 H. Ellison Rockabilly (1963) 138 You've got a piece of the action.

1973 C. Alverson Fighting Back (1978) i. 2 This is a very pretty little bar you've got here... I want a piece of it. I think you could use a partner.

1989 W. Boroson Keys to Investing in Mutual Funds 7 Because they can put more money into a fund by joining together, each member of the group can buy a piece of a wide mix of investments.

1995 DJ 6 July 16/2 He wants to make sure he doesn't forget where he's from by giving his homeboys a piece of the action.

e. colloquial (originally U.S.). With of. A fight or contest with a person; frequently as a threat in (do you) want a piece of me?, etc.

ΚΠ

1953 Times-Bulletin (Van West, Ohio) 8 Sept. 8/ He may beat me, but I'll get a piece of him.

1977 Reporter (Fond du Lac, Wisconsin) 22 June 14/2 ‘I want him on the debate platform,’ Dreyfus said Tuesday. ‘I want a piece of him.’

2004 J. Stetson Blood on Leaves viii. 46 You want a piece of me? I ain't hidin' and I sure as hell ain't runnin'!

a. A separate or detached part, segment, or fragment (of a concrete object); any of the distinct portions of which something is composed. Also in extended use.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > [noun] > stretch, period, or portion of time

tidea900

while971

fristOE

stemOE

throwOE

timeOE

selea1250

piecec1300

termc1300

stagea1325

whilesc1330

space?a1400

racec1400

spacec1405

termine1420

parodya1425

timea1425

continuancec1440

thrallc1450

espace1483

space of timec1500

tracta1513

stead1596

reach1654

amidst1664

stretch1698

spell1728

track1835

lifetime1875

time slice1938

the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > part of whole > [noun] > a part viewed as separate

piecec1300

cantlec1315

parcela1382

c1300 St. Margarete (Harl.) 122 in O. Cockayne Seinte Marherete (1866) 27 (MED) Bi peces þe flesch orn adoun.

a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 260^v Bestes of pray haueþ teeþ..scharpe þat þey mowen..come to þe pray and byte þerof gobettes & peces [L. frustrum].

c1450 in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 601/11 Pecia, a pece, or lytyl part of a thyng.

a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll.) 280 Sir Launcelot..kutte a pese away of that cloth.

a1500 tr. Lanfranc Sci. Cirurgie (Wellcome) f. 22^v (MED) The behovith to do away the boon with instrumentis, and littill pecys þu shalt þus do Away.

1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. xxv That day..is roosted a whole Oxe..A piece whereof is serued to the Emperours table.

1653 I. Walton Compl. Angler iv. 108 I think the best [rods] are of two pieces .

1694 tr. F. Martens Voy. Spitzbergen 160 in Narbrough's Acct. Several Late Voy. One of them cuts the soft and tough Fat into small pieces with a long Knife.

1713 M. Henry Catech. Youth in Wks. (1853) II. 169/1 Gave them a piece of a honeycomb to eat.

1781 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 71 175 (note) 35 They [sc. ants] cut out of the leaves of certain trees and plants pieces almost circular.

1823 C. Lamb Imperfect Sympathies in Elia 135 They are content with fragments and scattered pieces of Truth.

1891 Manufacturer & Builder Oct. 226/3 After the sap has been gathered it is evaporated..and is then cut up into pieces about an inch thick.

1926 People's Home Jrnl. Feb. 40/2 In the diagram below are shown the different pieces of the dress as it comes to you.

1987 National Geographic Sept. 314/1 I took the unit to Guatemala, where its success in analyzing the mosaic pieces of the Tikal mask..points to a revolution in artifact authentication.

b. As the second element in compounds denoting items of clothing, parts of structures, or components of apparatus, as back-piece, cross-piece, earpiece, eyepiece, headpiece, heel-piece, etc., and with prefixed numeral, forming attributive phrases, as one-piece, three-piece: see the first element.

3. An area of land which is enclosed, marked off by boundaries, or otherwise viewed as distinct, esp. in terms of ownership.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the earth > land > tract > [noun]

placec1325

piecec1330

soil1430

groundc1436

territory?a1439

land1604

strain1614

track1686

reaching1727

terrain1766

land-score1828

outstretch1858

c1330 (?a1300) Kyng Alisaunder (Auch.) (1952) 324 (MED) Þou schalt haue..þat riche pece Þat liþ to þe lond of Grece.

1420 in C. Innes Liber S. Marie de Calchou (1846) 447 A pese of lande..lyand betwen ij bowrnis.

1463 in S. Tymms Wills & Inventories Bury St. Edmunds (1850) 31 (MED) There is vij acres lond lying by the hih weye..wich..lith in ij pecys.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Josh. xxiv. F The bones of Ioseph..buried they at Sichem, in the pece of the londe, y^t Iacob boughte of the children of Hemor.

1574 J. Baret Aluearie L 292 To let forth, or make a leasse of a piece of land.

1611 Bible (King James) Luke xiv. 18 I haue bought a piece of ground.

1677 Derby (Connecticut) Town Rec. (1901) 55 That little pece of land betwen the Rock and the gully or Creke.

1707 Boston News-let. 7 July 2/2 A convenient double Brick House and Garden.., with a piece of Land near to that which was Sir William Phipps.

1772 MS Award, Winterton, Lincs. All that other peice or parcel of Ground.

1808 P. Hawker Diary (1893) I. 13 I went into a piece of potatoes..without a dog.

1897 J. W. Clark Observ. Priory Barnwell Introd. 10 A list of the different pieces of property, with their yearly values.

1944 H. F. Infield Co-operative Living in Palestine (1946) iii. 46 Here the settler lives in his own house, owns a piece of land and some cattle.

1990 Yankee Mar. 136/1 Meanwhile, Dr. James Marvin had been scouring Vermont for a piece of forest to call his family's own.

4. A (more or less) definite quantity in which any of various manufactured goods are made or put up for sale or use.

a. A standard length, varying according to the material, in which cloth or other textile fabric is woven. Cf. bolt n.¹ 8.The standard ‘piece’ of cloth typically measured 24 yards (approx. 21.9 metres) in length and 7 quarters (approx. 1.60 metres: see quarter n. 5a) in breadth, but there were formerly many exceptions according to the quality of the fabric, its value, place of manufacture, etc.: e.g. a piece of muslin was 14 ells (16.0 metres) in length; Hampshire calico, 28 yards by 1 quarter (25.6 by 1.60 metres); bagging for hops (in Worcestershire), 36 yards by 31 inches (32.9 by 0.79 metres), and so on.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement of length > [noun] > units of length or distance > units in measuring cloth

piece1389

nail1394

stick1466

goad1467

1389 in J. Raine Testamenta Eboracensia (1836) I. 130 (MED) Item, Johannæ de Carlton..half a pes of lawmpas.

a1500 Tracts Eng. Weights & Meas. 18 in Camden Misc. (1929) XV (MED) 1 pece Tartyrn ys x yerdes; 1 pece lawne or ump[er]ill, xvj plyte or xviij yerds.

1523 Act 14 & 15 Hen. VIII c. 3 §7 Every peace of Worstede Sayes or Stamyns to be made withyn any of the said Townes.

1588 Acct.-bk. W. Wray in Antiquary (1896) 32 54 Item j pece tawnye buffing xxs. Item ij pece blacke buffing, xxiiijs.

1622 E. Misselden Free Trade (ed. 2) 9 Ther they goe at Twelve Gilders eight stivers the piece.

1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) Piece,..a certain Number of Ells or Yards of Cloth, Stuff, Silk, etc.

1709 Ld. Shaftesbury Moralists i. ii. 20 Some of those rich Stuffs..with such irregular Work, and contrary Colours, as look'd ill in the Pattern, but mighty natural and well in the Piece.

1811 J. Taylor Remarks Present State Devon in T. Risdon Chorogr. Surv. Devon (new ed.) p. xxvi The..trade took off..about 35,000 pieces, each piece containing 26 yards.

1844 G. Dodd Textile Manuf. Great Brit. ii. 48 A ‘piece’ of cotton cloth varies from twenty-four to forty-seven yards in length, and from twenty-eight to forty inches in width.

1992 N.Y. Mag. 3 Feb. 40/2 Sometimes an expensive fabric is made up for a customer who wants only, say, 40 yards, so the rest of the bolt (most bolts—referred to as pieces—hold 50 or 70 yards) must be disposed of.

b. A quantity of wine, brandy, or (historical) ale, varying according to the locality but generally equivalent to a butt, or to two hogsheads; a cask containing this amount.The term is generally treated as French in later use.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > measurement > the scientific measurement of volume > measure(s) of capacity > [noun] > liquid measure of capacity > specific units of liquid measure > barrel or cask as unit

pipe1352

tunc1400

piece1423

hogshead1427

ton mascull1432

tierce1531

leaguer1683

tonneau1794

1423 in A. F. Leach Beverley Town Documents (1900) p. liv 2 panyers, 1 hopir, 1 modius, 1 firthindal, 1 piece and ½ a piece of wood.

a1505 L. Haryson in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 490 I sen my lady a lytyll pes of Renysch wyne of þe best off x gallons.

1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. ccii. 238 They wanne the good town of Athyen..and there they founde mo than a hundred peces of wyne.

1608 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. (new ed.) ii. iv. 96 As Claret wine from a pearç't Peece doth spout.

1687 London Gaz. No. 2223/4 76 Pieces of Conyack Brandy in 32 Lotts.

1705 London Gaz. No. 4089/3 One hundred and eighty Pipes or Pieces, of double Spanish Brandy.

1745 J. Taylor Remarks on German Empire 258 A Tax of three Escalins..for every piece of Wine in the Merchant's Cellar.

1840 T. A. Trollope Summer in Brittany II. 281 A ‘piece’..of the best brandy, consisting of four hundred bottles, may be purchased at Bordeaux for two hundred and fifty francs.

1895 Westm. Gaz. 8 Apr. 3/2 Forty to fifty basketfuls [of grapes] are put upon the press at one time, and yield from ten to twelve pieces of wine.

1913 L. F. Salzman Eng. Industries Middle Ages x. 188 The list of standard [ale-]measures kept at Beverley in 1423 shows a potell, quart, pint, and gill of pewter, panyers, hopir, modius, firthindal, piece, and halfpiece of wood.

1956 Atlantic June 94/2 In Burgundy the barrel is called pièce and contains from 226 to 228 liters.

1986 Times 22 Nov. 34/4 In both these years 688 and 636 pièces respectively (the traditional Burgundian volume) were sold at auction.

†c. A pig or a half-pig of lead. Cf. pig n.¹ 11a. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > base metal > [noun] > lead > lead in specific form > pig or half-pig

sow1481

pig1589

piece1747

stave1864

1747 W. Hooson Miners Dict. sig. Iiv Amongst Lead Merchants it [sc. a Fodder] is nine Pieces or Piggs of Lead.

1773 Gentleman's Mag. 43 63 Blocks of lead..called pigs..being found too heavy to be easily managed, as they weighed three hundred weight..are now commonly made in Derbyshire into two pieces.

1829 S. Glover Hist. County of Derby I. 81 The pieces, or half-pigs of lead are not of any certain weight, though the smelter endeavours..to approach as near to 176¼ lbs. as he can.

d. The standard length in which wallpaper is produced (in Britain, generally 12 yards, approx. 11 metres).

ΚΠ

1850 D. McCurdy New Amer. Order Arithm. 116 375 pieces of wall paper at 75 cts?

1881 F. Young Every Man his own Mechanic §1639 A ‘piece’ of English paper is 12 yards long and a piece of French paper about 9½ yards.

1915 Times 10 May 6/1 (advt.) The ‘Dorothy Perkins’ Rose decoration. 3/- per piece of 12 yards.

1959 Home Encycl. 271 The regulation ‘piece’ or roll of wallpaper is 21 inches wide and 36 feet in length. In wallpapering, one piece in ten is allowed for waste in matching patterns, etc.

1989 Independent (Nexis) 13 May The most important innovation was the roll or piece of wallpaper. A piece 12 yards long and about 22in wide was achieved by sticking large sheets of hand-made rag paper together.

5. An instance, example, or specimen of a form of action or activity, function, or quality.

a. Applied to an abstract thing, concept, quality, etc.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > an individual case or instance > [noun] > exemplifying some rule, activity, quality, etc.

asaumplea1250

evidencec1391

piecea1393

examplea1398

samplera1400

exemplarc1475

paradigm1483

instant1560

precedenta1575

exemplification1582

exemplary1583

instance1592

instancy1613

copy1641

specimen1659

patron saint1803

for instance1959

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. 1338 (MED) Dorus, whilom king of Grece..hadde of infortune a piece.

1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. vi. f. lxxvi^v For if ye loue no moe nor other but them that loue you, what piece of rewarde will ye require at Goddes hande?

a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) i. xiii. sig. I4 Making a peece of reuerence vnto him.

1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. T. Boccalini Ragguagli di Parnasso i. lxv. 129 It being a hatefull piece of petulancy to envy great Princes.

1691 J. Ray Wisdom of God 91 Eminent pieces of Self-denial.

1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson iii. x. 407 It would have been a piece of imprudence.

1775 Ld. Percy Let. 9 June (1902) 54 The retreat by Lord Percy was deemed a piece of masterly officership in bringing off his men with so little loss.

1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth vii, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. III. 175 A piece of blundering valiancy.

1876 G. O. Trevelyan Life & Lett. Macaulay I. iii. 139 A rare piece of luck.

1937 ‘G. Orwell’ Road to Wigan Pier xii. 232 Deliberately to revert to primitive methods..would be a piece of dilettantism.

1992 S. King Gerald's Game (1993) iii. 55 Another piece of New Age vapidity passing for wisdom pointed out.

b. Applied to a concrete thing, action, activity, etc.

ΚΠ

1532 T. More Confut. Tyndale in Wks. (1557) 425 Ye may first here see a piece of his playne Poetrie double proued.

a1568 R. Ascham Scholemaster (1570) ii. f. 39^v The conference of these two places, conteinyng so excellent a peece of learning, as this is.

1629 W. Davenant Trag. Albovine iii. i sig. F3^v It is a piece of courtship to salute at parting.

1686 tr. J. Chardin Trav. Persia 398 A..delicate Piece of Architecture.

?c1710 J. Taylor Journey Edenborough (1903) 71 A noble Monument of its former Grandeur, being one of the finest pieces of ruin in the Kingdom.

1774 W. Hutchinson Excursion to Lakes 36 There being enclosed in a case in the wainscot a fine piece of portrait painting.

1828 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 23 373 His [sc. Leigh Hunt's] account of the meeting is a precious piece of cockneyism.

1870 E. Peacock Ralf Skirlaugh I. 86 This elaborate piece of chiselmanship.

1905 E. M. Forster Where Angels fear to Tread vii. 236 She still took it as a piece of nursery prattle, and smiled mechanically.

2004 Charleston (W. Va.) Daily Mail 1 Apr. p6 d Cooper..pronounced it [sc. a podium] a fine piece of woodworking.

†c. Applied to a person in whom some quality is exemplified or realized. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > an individual case or instance > [noun] > typical or representative case > that which typically exhibits a quality > person

figurer1548

illustrator1598

piece1615

exemplifiera1677

impersonation1797

specimen1817

exemplificator1828

incarnation1833

1615 T. Tomkis Albumazar v. ix. sig. I2^v O Pretious peece of villany! are you vnchang'd?

a1625 J. Fletcher Rule a Wife (1640) iii. 37 The master of this litle peece of mischiefe.

1648 J. Goodwin in W. Jenkyn Ὁδηγος Τυϕλος i. 6 Green-head, young peece of presumption, Prelaticall peece of Presbytery,..swelling peece of vanity.

1712 J. Arbuthnot John Bull Still in Senses i. 7 One of your affected Cursying pieces of Formality.

1778 F. Burney Evelina III. xiv. 141 As to the little Louisa, 'tis such a pretty piece of languor.

1813 J. Austen Let. 3 July in Lett. to Sister Cassandra & Others (1952) 317 He was a piece of Perfection, noisy Perfection himself which I always recollect with regard.

1875 R. Browning Inn Album in Poet. Wks. (1888–94) XII. 287 You dared love a piece of virtue.

a. A part or portion of the whole, marked off or considered as distinct but, not separate.Now less commonly used than part, portion, section, etc.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > part of whole > [noun]

deala800

doleOE

endOE

lotlOE

partyc1300

parta1325

specec1330

portiona1387

piecec1400

proportion1443

parcellingc1449

faction1577

piecemeal1603

proportional1856

c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xiv. 48 Þanne was it a pece [c1400 C text pice] of þe pater-noster ‘fiat voluntas tua’.

1534 T. More Treat. Passion in Wks. 1303/1 That he might steale a peece of the pryce.

1562 in F. J. Furnivall Child-marriages, Divorces, & Ratifications Diocese Chester (1897) 116 Roberte Rile the younger neuer promysid her any pease of the lease of the house where her husband nowe dwellis, nor nothinge els.

1642 D. Rogers Naaman 182 Now in a word, for the other peece of the question.

1699 H. Wanley in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eminent Lit. Men (1843) 292 For other Saxon books, I have copied large pieces of them.

1794 D. Steel Elements & Pract. Rigging & Seamanship I. 10 Side-trees, the lower main pieces of a made-mast.

1840 C. Dickens Old Curiosity Shop I. xi. 150 You can see a piece of the church clock through the chimneys, and almost tell the time.

1889 F. Galton Nat. Inheritance ii. 8 Each piece of the new structure is derived from a corresponding piece of some older one.

1915 V. Woolf Voy. Out xiv. 215 He stooped and picked up a piece of the rug at their feet.

1994 Midwest Home & Design Winter 24/3 There's a recognition that being ecologically sensitive pervades every piece of a person's life.

b. A length or section of (or †on) a road, or similar linear thing.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > longitudinal extent > [noun] > that which has length > portion of something having length

piecea1450

a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Merlin (1904) I. l. 1433 That preest..browht ȝow a gret pece on the weye.

1561 T. Hoby tr. B. Castiglione Courtyer i. sig. K.ii^v Accompaninge the Pope a peece of the way.

1600 tr. T. Garzoni Hosp. Incurable Fooles 129 He woulde accompanie them a good peece of the way.

1660 G. Mackenzie Aretina iv. 367 Ordering..all the Ordnance to send their shot a piece of the way with him.

1732 J. Horsley Britannia Romana iii. ii. 415 He has lately viewed this piece of Roman road by Altrineham, and assures me that it is pointing directly towards Chester and Manchester.

1773 O. Goldsmith She stoops to Conquer i. 16 I'll just step myself, and shew you a piece of the way.

1846 C. Dickens Pictures from Italy 214 We tracked a piece of the old road.

1858 J. G. Burnett Blanche of Brandywine iv. i. 38 Oh! You're a goin' a piece of the road with me?

1932 W. Faulkner Light in August i. 5 Here's a wagon that's going a piece of the way.

2003 Evening Times (Glasgow) (Nexis) 10 Nov. 8 One of the most heavily used pieces of road in Scotland.

†c. With of. A person who fulfils a role, occupation, etc., partially or to some extent. Cf. bit n.² and adj.² Phrases 2a(a)(i). Obsolete.

ΚΠ

1552 T. Cooper Bibliotheca Eliotæ (rev. ed.) Frustum hominis, a litle pretie felow, that semeth to be but a peece of a man. Plaut. Petit bout d'homme: moitié de homme.]

a1586 Sir P. Sidney Apol. Poetrie (1595) sig. B1^v If I had not beene a peece of a Logician before I came to him.

1633 J. Clarke tr. Two-fold Praxis 12 in Dux Grammaticus Hoo! would you faine be thought a piece of an Astronomer now?

1641 Naunton's Fragmenta Regalia sig. F3 Being a good peece of a Scholler.

1661 H. Wotton Lett. to Edmund Bacon 101 I was assailed by that Splenetick Passion, which a Country good fellow that had been a piece of a Grammarian meant, when he said he was sick of the Flatus.

1743 in T. B. Howell State Trials (1813) XVII. 1172 He is a piece of a surgeon.

1782 T. Warton Let. 29 Sept. (1995) iii. 459 I who, being an old author, am a piece of a printer will conduct every thing in a frugal yet decent way.

1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian I. ix. 170 The time was when I might have been a piece of a minister.

1852 ‘E. Wetherell’ Queechy I. 275 I am a piece of a physician and a little in the agricultural line also.

d. U.S. regional. A poor or unsatisfactory specimen of something.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > inferior thing > [noun]

poornessa1382

chaffc1386

cold roast?1406

arse-guta1413

short end1560

under-kind1571

inferior1589

canvas-back1605

underthing1620

under-sort1655

wasteling1750

slouch1767

shamea1771

neck beefa1777

rep1786

wastrel1790

wastera1800

shoddy1862

piece1884

tinhorn1887

robbo1897

cheapie1898

buckeye1906

reach-me-down1916

dog1917

stinkeroo1934

bodgie1964

cheapo1975

1884 Harper's New Monthly Mag. 69 303 The spirit which animated her father when he went to housekeeping in a piece of a house without any front window.

1967 V. Williams Greenbones 227 ‘Let's stop for the night. Yonder's a piece of cabin.’.. He followed Nin into a moldy, smelly shack, tumbled down until only owls would have it.

1996 in Dict. Amer. Regional Eng. (2002) IV. 123/2 My man had a piece of a mine—he war a piece of a miner, leastways till hit fell on him.

7. A single item belonging to a group or class of similar objects. Frequently in piece of furniture, piece of ordnance, piece of plate, etc. Cf. a piece n. at Phrases 3.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > part of whole > [noun] > constituent part or component > single element of collective whole

piece1473

unit1600

module1946

1473 J. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 472 Myn jnstrumentys..I praye yow..to trusse in a pedde and sende them me..and a byll ther-in how many pecys.

1523 Earl of Surrey in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1824) 1st Ser. I. 216 Dyvers other good peces of ordynaunce for the feld.

c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 9504 Syluer and Sarrigold sadly þai grippet..Pesis of plates plentius mekyll.

1563 in J. H. Burton Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1877) 1st Ser. I. 237 Ane brasin pece of artailyerie, ten irn pecis.

1603 M. Pring Voy. N. Virginia in S. Purchas Purchas his Pilgrimes (1906) XVIII. 328 Our Master..caused a piece of great Ordnance to bee shot off, to give terrour to the Indians.

1636 R. Fewster Will in B. Cusack Everyday Eng. 1500–1700 (1998) 341 Item I giue &^c to my wiffe & my two daughters 4 peeces off pewter to each.

1669 S. Sturmy Mariners Mag. v. 75 Of the..Motion or Course of a Shot discharged out of any Piece of Ordnance.

1715 London Gaz. No. 5336/2 A Piece of Plate of the value of 100 Ducats.

1792 Gentleman's Mag. 12/2 A statue or a piece of plate require inscriptions very different from a monument.

1832 R. Southey Hist. Peninsular War III. 319 A regiment..succeeded in taking two pieces of cannon.

1886 M. Linskill Haven under Hill I. xv. 201 It was a handsome piece of furniture.

1940 W. E. Crook Electr. in Aircraft vii. 93 The impulse starter..is a purely mechanical piece of apparatus.

1991 J. Phillips You'll never eat Lunch in this Town Again (1992) 115 He has always been very proud of this piece of equipment.

†8. Scottish. A head of cattle, stock, game, etc. Cf. a piece at sense 10b. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

1480 in Acts Lords of Council Civil Causes (1839) I. 46/1 xxx d. for þe pece of þe gymmyr..& xij d. for þe pece of þe lammys.

1556 in R. Pitcairn Criminal Trials Scotl. (1833) I. i. 390 The pryce of..the peis of pultrie.

1575 Edinb. Test. III. f. 297, in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue at Pece Albeit ilk pece of the samin ky wes than worth ten markis.

1622 in W. Fraser Chiefs of Grant (1883) III. 427 Nyne peace of hors.

1701 in J. Cameron Argyll Justiciary Rec. (1949) I. 194 Ane large black mear..with other three pieces of horses.

II. Uses without of and specification of the substance, etc. (elliptical, contextual, or conventional).

a. A person, an individual (generally understood to be male from the context). In later use frequently derogatory. Now rare.In early use often applied to one of a multitude, as a member of an army, etc.

ΘΚΠ

the world > people > person > man > [noun]

churla800

werec900

rinkeOE

wapmanc950

heOE

wyeOE

gomeOE

ledeOE

seggeOE

shalkOE

manOE

carmanlOE

mother bairnc1225

hemea1250

mother sona1250

hind1297

buck1303

mister mana1325

piecec1325

groomc1330

man of mouldc1330

hathela1350

sire1362

malea1382

fellowa1393

guestc1394

sergeant?a1400

tailarda1400

tulka1400

harlotc1405

mother's sona1470

frekea1475

her1488

masculinea1500

gentlemana1513

horse?a1513

mutton?a1513

merchant1549

child1551

dick1553

sorrya1555

knavea1556

dandiprat1556

cove1567

rat1571

manling1573

bird1575

stone-horse1580

loona1586

shaver1592

slave1592

copemate1593

tit1594

dog1597

hima1599

prick1598

dingle-dangle1605

jade1608

dildoa1616

Roger1631

Johnny1648

boy1651

cod1653

cully1676

son of a bitch1697

cull1698

feller1699

chap1704

buff1708

son of a gun1708

buffer1749

codger1750

Mr1753

he-man1758

fella1778

gilla1790

gloak1795

joker1811

gory1819

covey1821

chappie1822

Charley1825

hombre1832

brother-man1839

rooster1840

blokie1841

hoss1843

Joe1846

guy1847

plug1848

chal1851

rye1851

omee1859

bloke1861

guffin1862

gadgie1865

mug1865

kerel1873

stiff1882

snoozer1884

geezer1885

josser1886

dude1895

gazabo1896

jasper1896

prairie dog1897

sport1897

crow-eater1899

papa1903

gink1906

stud1909

scout1912

head1913

beezer1914

jeff1917

pisser1918

bimbo1919

bozo1920

gee1921

mush1936

rye mush1936

basher1942

okie1943

mugger1945

cat1946

ou1949

tess1952

oke1970

bra1974

muzhik1993

c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 4193 (MED) He wole sone come; þulke vorbroyde pece.

c1425 (c1400) Laud Troy-bk. 4446 (MED) That fel faire for men of Grece, Thei hadde elles dyed euery pece.

1472 in Bull. Inst. Hist. Res. (1925) 3 48 (MED) I resceiued xvj d. of diuers tenauntes that is to say j d. of a pece.

1508 W. Kennedy Flyting (Chepman & Myllar) in Poems W. Dunbar (1998) I. 214 In Parise wyth the maister buriawe Abyde..And help to hang the pece for half a frank.

1576 G. Whetstone Ortchard of Repentance 5 in Rocke of Regard A crooked peece, with withered age forworne.

1651 H. Isaackson in T. Fuller Abel Redevivus sig. *2^v King James..selecting him, as his choysest peece, to vindicate his Regality.

1673 F. Kirkman Unlucky Citizen 171 She having so untoward a piece to her Husband, was undone by him.

1736 S. Chandler Hist. Persecution 346 Bancroft..was, as the historian calls him, a sturdy Piece.

1746 in Leisure Hour (1880) 117 An old nasty grunting bishop..who plagues me out of my life, he is such a formal piece.

1874 T. Hardy Far from Madding Crowd I. xxii. 252 A strange old piece, ye say!.. At the same time ye be no old man worth naming.

1900 E. Phillpotts Sons of Morning 90 He'm an ancient piece wi'out gert store o' words best o' times.

1918 L. Strachey Eminent Victorians 63 I hate that man, he is such a forward piece.

b. A woman or girl; in later use usually derogatory, with connotation of a woman regarded as a sexual object. Hence in extended use: sexual intercourse.

ΘΚΠ

the world > people > person > woman > [noun]

wifeeOE

womaneOE

womanOE

queanOE

brideOE

viragoc1000

to wifeOE

burdc1225

ladyc1225

carlinec1375

stotc1386

marec1387

pigsneyc1390

fellowa1393

piecec1400

femalea1425

goddessa1450

fairc1450

womankindc1450

fellowessa1500

femininea1513

tega1529

sister?1532

minikinc1540

wyec1540

placket1547

pig's eye1553

hen?1555

ware1558

pussy?a1560

jade1560

feme1566

gentlewoman1567

mort1567

pinnacea1568

jug1569

rowen1575

tarleather1575

mumps1576

skirt1578

piga1586

rib?1590

puppy1592

smock1592

maness1594

sloy1596

Madonna1602

moll1604

periwinkle1604

Partlet1607

rib of man1609

womanship?1609

modicum1611

Gypsy1612

petticoata1616

runniona1616

birda1627

lucky1629

she-man1640

her1646

lost rib1647

uptails1671

cow1696

tittup1696

cummer17..

wife1702

she-woman1703

person1704

molly1706

fusby1707

goody1708

riding hood1718

birdie1720

faggot1722

piece of goods1727

woman body1771

she-male1776

biddy1785

bitch1785

covess1789

gin1790

pintail1792

buer1807

femme1814

bibi1816

Judy1819

a bit (also bundle) of muslin1823

wifie1823

craft1829

shickster?1834

heifer1835

mot1837

tit1837

Sitt1838

strap1842

hay-bag1851

bint1855

popsy1855

tart1864

woman's woman1868

to deliver the goods1870

chapess1871

Dona1874

girl1878

ladykind1878

mivvy1881

dudess1883

dudette1883

dudine1883

tid1888

totty1890

tootsy1895

floozy1899

dame1902

jane1906

Tom1906

frail1908

bit of stuff1909

quim1909

babe1911

broad1914

muff1914

manhole1916

number1919

rossie1922

bit1923

man's woman1928

scupper1935

split1935

rye mort1936

totsy1938

leg1939

skinny1941

Richard1950

potato1957

scow1960

wimmin1975

womyn1975

womxn1991

c1400 (?c1380) Pearl 192 A precos [read precios] pyece in perlez pyȝt.

1562 J. Heywood Of Mine Acquayntance Certaine Yong Man i. iv, in Wks. sig. Aiiij^v This mayde, the peece perelesse in mine eie.

1567 G. Turberville tr. A. Sani di Cure Aunsweres in tr. Ovid Heroycall Epist. 157^v Faire Helena that passing peece.

1621 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy i. ii. iv. i. 191 A waspish cholerick slut, a crased peece.

1668 C. Sedley Mulberry-garden iii. ii. 40 She is a tender Piece.

a1770 A. Hervey Jrnl. (1953) (modernized text) 122 I saw a very fine country-girl..and a most lovely piece she was.

1790 A. Shirrefs Poems 117 There's few wad think her sic a saucy piece!

1846 ‘Lord Chief Baron’ Swell's Night Guide (new ed.) 104 She is likewise quite a new piece, not having exposed her goods to market above three months.

1873 J. Miller Life amongst Modocs xv. 194 Rather a good-looking piece you got here now, ain't she?

1908 Z. Gale Friendship Village 251 [When] Zorah had took sick..this little piece here had up an' offered [to dance in the carnival].

1953 T. Morrison Stones of House v. iii. 243 You couldn't put up a memorial to a boy whose younger brother had just given the family and the college a bad name, not even sneaking off to a house somewhere if he wanted a piece.

1966 K. Amis Anti-death League 329 Those two pieces in leather who served you your coffee.

1974 H. L. Foster Ribbin', Jivin', & Playin' Dozens v. 208 He said he fucked your baby sister and poked your baby niece And when he sees your little brother he's going to ask him for a piece.

2002 Sunday Express (Nexis) 13 Jan. 34 The silly blonde piece who was filmed drunk, sleeping around and working as a stripper on a Greek island.

10. A portion of time or space.

a. A period or space of time, esp. a short one; a while. Also: a part of a day, hour, etc. Now regional (chiefly U.S., Scottish and English regional (northern)).

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > duration > shortness or brevity in time > [noun] > a short or moderate space of time

weekeOE

littleOE

roomOE

stoundOE

startc1300

houra1350

furlong wayc1384

piecea1400

weea1400

speed whilec1400

hanlawhilea1500

snack1513

spirt?1550

snatch1563

fit1583

spurta1591

shortness1598

span1599

bit1653

thinking time1668

thinking-while1668

onwardling1674

way-bit1674

whilie1819

fillip1880

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 7063 Þe wer lasted sa long a pece.

a1425 (?a1350) Seege Troye (Linc. Inn) (1927) 813 (MED) Reste we now a litel pece, And speke we of þeo kyng of grece.

a1475 in F. J. Furnivall Polit., Relig., & Love Poems (1903) 272 About þis, a pece I wyl spede, Þat I myth þis lettrys rede.

1580 G. Harvey in E. Spenser & G. Harvey Three Proper & Wittie Lett. 36 Some doe I know, that a peece of a tweluemonths [in Italy] Hath so perfited..That none for sense..halfe matchable with them.

1640 J. Fletcher & R. Massinger Sir John van Olden Barnavelt (1979) iii. iv. 49 One blow, one short peece of an howre dos this And this cures all.

1720 D. Defoe Life Capt. Singleton 83 We came thither in a Piece of a Day.

1755 G. Washington Let. 7 June in Writings (1931) I. 133 After waiting a Day and a piece in Winchester.

c1825 in Notes & Queries 9th Ser. 3 330 A piece back, three tides came up the Trent on one day.

1897 R. Kipling Captains Courageous viii. 165 We'll fish a piece till the thing lifts.

1928 A. E. Pease Dict. Dial. N. Riding Yorks. 95/2 Ah wez wiv her a canny piece afore she said owt.

1965 News Jrnl. (Mansfield, Ohio) 22 Aug. d 8/1 Warren Berlinger has the title role of hero Kilroy, a Marine who turns up in Wilton Junction..and decides to stay a piece.

b. a piece, slightly, a bit, to some degree. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > part of whole > [noun] > a separate part > a piece or bit > small piece

fingereOE

snedec1000

seed?a1200

morselc1300

bittlock?a1400

farthingc1405

spota1413

lipetc1430

offe?1440

drewc1450

remnantc1450

parcel1483

crap1520

flakec1525

patch1528

spark1548

a piece1559

sparklec1570

inch1573

nibbling?1577

scantling1585

scrat1593

mincing1598

scantle1598

halfpenny1600

quantity1600

nip1606

kantch1608

bit1609

catch1613

scripa1617

snap1616

sippeta1625

crumblet1634

scute1635

scantleta1642

snattock1654

cantlet1700

tab1729

pallion1738

smallness1818

knobble1823

wisp1836

1559 H. Machyn Diary (1848) 205 A mayd..dyd cutt her thrott a-pesse, and after she lepyd in-to a welle and drownyd yr seyllff.

1934 in W. W. Gill Manx Dial. ii. 88 That end stack's beginning to heel over a piece.

1990 Sunday Tel. 24 June (Colour Suppl.) 23/3 It saddens me apiece, that we are studying Bresson.

c. A portion of the way or distance between two points; a distance, esp. a short one. Now regional (chiefly North American).

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > distance > [noun] > a short distance

wurpc950

stepc1000

footc1300

furlong wayc1384

stone-casta1387

straw brede14..

tinec1420

weec1420

field-breadth1535

field-broad1535

pair of butts1545

straw-breadth1577

stone's throw1581

way-bit?1589

space1609

piece1612

littlea1616

spirt1670

a spit and a stride1676

hair's breadth1706

rope's length1777

biscuit throw1796

a whoop and a holler1815

biscuit toss1836

biscuit cast1843

stone-shot1847

pieceway1886

stone-put1896

pitch-and-putt1925

pieceways1932

1612 J. Brinsley Ludus Lit. xx. 230 By practice, euery day going a piece, and oft reading ouer and ouer, they will grow very much, to your great ioy.

1707 Session Bk. Glasserton MS 6 Apr. John Stewart..acknowledged that he went after sermons upon a Sabbath day to the sea shore a little piece from his dwelling house.

1754 E. Burt Lett. N. Scotl. I. viii. 181 He told us we must go West a Piece..and then incline to the North.

1835 J. Hogg Tales Wars Montrose I. 49 I'll make my brother Adam carry it piece about with you.

1873 E. B. Tuttle Boy's Bk. Indians 134 Major Gordon descended the ridge..and carrying the body of Stambaugh a piece, hid it away in some bushes.

1908 L. M. Montgomery Anne of Green Gables ii. 18 We've got to drive a long piece, haven't we? Mrs. Spencer said it was eight miles.

1971 Sunday Express (Johannesburg) 28 Mar. (Home-finder section) 3/3 (advt.) Nearby golf courses, Not forgetting swinging Margate..just up the road a piece.

1985 B. Oreström Corpus Shetland English 41 You've noticed the swa patch on the backs of some of these tups... That was for so that..the men..could see them at a long piece away.

1992 Down East Feb. 22/1 A new shop in Manset [is] down the road a piece from Wilbur's place.

11.

a. An item of armour; a part of a suit of armour. Now chiefly in compounds, with prefixed word indicating the part of the body protected, as headpiece n., shoulder-piece n., thigh-piece n. at thigh n. Compounds 2, etc. †armed at (also of) all pieces: wearing a full suit of armour, completely protected (obsolete).

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > military equipment > armour > [adjective] > clad in or protected by armour

armedc1300

wrienc1330

steel-clada1400

armed at (also of) all piecesc1400

harnessedc1460

enarmedc1540

armoured1564

steeled1596

iron-clothed1728

armour-clad1768

hoplomachic1832

well-armoured1852

brazen-mailed1870

pamphract1890

c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) 2021 (MED) He hadde vpon vche pece, Wypped ful wel & wlonk.

c1450 King Ponthus (Digby) in Publ. Mod. Lang. Assoc. Amer. (1897) 12 40 (MED) They shall fynde the blak knyght armyd at all pecys.

c1500 Melusine (1895) 248 Thenne toke he his armures & armed hym of al pieces.

c1550 Clarodius iii. 336 He ischit furth..Enarmit at all peices.

1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. xxxi. 799 The regiment of the footmen..came but slowly forward, by reason they were heauily armed at all peeces.

1674 C. Cotton tr. B. de Montluc Commentaries i. 50 There was no horse so tall..but he could arm'd at all pieces, vault into the Seat.

1752 T. Carte Gen. Hist. Eng. III. 376 This nobleman's staff, lighting on the King's head-piece and taking away the pennage fastened to it with iron.

1774 J. Ayloffe Acct. Some Eng. Hist. Paintings at Cowdry 12 The King's Majesty, armed at all pieces, mounted upon a goodly courser.

1816 J. B. Burges Dragon Knight 62 The youth..oft the splendour of my arms admir'd, The name, the use, of ev'ry piece enquir'd.

1898 Archaeol. Jrnl. 55 119 The head-piece, which is a visored salade.

1995 V. Chandra Red Earth & Pouring Rain (1996) 130 Dull grey thigh-pieces with decorative engraving suggestive of leaves and creepers.

†b. A fortress or stronghold. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > defence > defensive work(s) > fort or fortified town > [noun]

chestera855

boroughc893

fastnessOE

strength?c1225

warnestore1297

fortress13..

holdc1330

strongholdc1384

motec1390

fortalicec1425

garnisonc1430

garrisonc1430

town of war1441

wall-town1488

strengh1489

afforciament1509

piece1525

forcea1552

citadel1567

fort1569

place1575

holt1600

alcazar1623

fasthold1623

afforcement1642

castle-town1646

post1648

garrison-town1649

bridlea1661

palank1685

place of arms1704

ostrog1761

qila1761

presidio1763

gurry1786

thana1803

pa1823

castrum1836

lis1845

Gibraltar1856

training post1867

kasbah1902

jong1904

1525 in State Papers Henry VIII (1830) I. 160 The demaundes made by Mons^r. de Buren for the Duchie of Burgon, and diverse other gret peaces in Fraunce.

1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 83 He receyued againe all the holdes and peeces which his father had lost.

1596 W. Warner Albions Eng. (rev. ed.) x. lviii. 256 This Guize bereft vs Calice, and in France our Peeces all.

1673 J. Ray Observ. Journey Low-countries 3 Ostend..is most regularly and exactly fortified, so that it seemed to us one of the strongest Pieces in all the Low-Countries.

1721 J. Strype Eccl. Memorials II. ii. v. 288 A commission..to repair..to the town of Calais and to certain other pieces on that side of the seas.

†c. A boat or ship. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > vessels propelled by oars or poles > [noun] > vessels propelled by oars and sails > others

piece1545

frigate1585

1545 in State Papers Henry VIII (1830) I. 809 Capitaynes and leaders of His Highnes rowyng peces.

1675 London Gaz. No. 1004/1 To go and see the Royal James,..and several other pieces built by Commissioner Deane.

12. A scrap or cutting of cloth, leather, etc., esp. used to repair a hole or tear; a patch. Cf. piece v. 1.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > materials > types of material generally > [noun] > patch of material for mending

clouta700

patcha1382

piece?c1430

speckc1440

piece-patch1880

the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > [noun] > piece of > other pieces

piece?c1430

fasel1440

speckc1440

pane1459

rag?1536

remnant1571

fag end1607

swatch1647

cut1753

rigg1769

hag's teeth1777

bias1824

spetch1828

shredlet1840

bias tape1884

short end1960

?c1430 (c1400) Rule St. Francis (Corpus Cambr.) in F. D. Matthew Eng. Wks. Wyclif (1880) 41 (MED) Þei may pese hem aȝen or cloute hem of sacchis & oþere pecis.

1433 Rolls of Parl. IV. 452/1 The same Clothe to be sold for a remenaunt, or for a pece, and nat for a Clothe.

1583 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Serm. on Deuteronomie cxc. 1183 They were as a clowte patched together of many peeces.

1600 T. Dekker Shomakers Holiday sig. B3 (stage direct.) Enter Symon Eyre, his wife, Hodge, Firk, lane, & Rafe with a peece.

1635 Bp. T. Morton Of Inst. Sacrament (ed. 2) vi. v. 461 Your Disputers..performe as fond and fruitlesse a labour, as the patching of old Vestments with new pieces, whereby the rent is made worse.

a1677 T. Manton Serm. (1678) I. xix. 375 Their Religion is but like a new Piece in an old Garment.

1749 B. Martin Lingua Britannica Reformata at Patch To mend with patches, or pieces.

1760 G. Baretti Dict. Eng. & Ital. Lang. I. at Ripezzatura A coat full of pieces and patches.

1882 Amer. Missionary Apr. 113 The motherly lady..finds patches and pieces..till the garments are whole again.

a1976 C. Reznikoff Testimony (1979) II. 137 The man's tracks showed the heel of the shoe for the right foot mended and a piece set in.

13. Heraldry. One of the sections into which a shield is divided (usually by stripes or bars). Also: a stripe or bar.

ΚΠ

c1460 Bk. Arms in Ancestor (1903) Apr. 183 (MED) [Sable two crowned lions passant] gobbone of vj pecys, [silver and gules].

c1460 Bk. Arms in Ancestor (1903) Apr. 186 (MED) Beryth Stafford and sylvyr ix pecys.

1572 J. Bossewell Wks. Armorie ii. f. 38^v Geronnie of vj pieces Or and Sable.

1610 J. Guillim Display of Heraldrie v. i. 240 Hee beareth Gyronny of sixe peeces Sable and Or, three Nigroes heads couped Proper.

1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory i. iv. 37 The French Herauld..doth blazon this Coat a Fesse of six pieces, but this is in regard the word (Face) stand for both a Fesse and a Barr.

1722 A. Nisbet Syst. Heraldry I. 39 Pally of eight Pieces, (others say, Eight Pieces Pale-ways) Or and Gules.

1782 Jrnls. Continental Congr. (U.S.) 7 20 June 395 Paleways of thirteen pieces, argent and gules; a chief azure; the escutcheon on the breast of the American eagle displayed proper.

1830 T. Robson Brit. Herald III. Gloss. Cross patriarchal or double cross, (French, croix double) composed of one piece in pale, and two transverse horizontal pieces.

1909 Hist. Seal U.S. (U.S. Dept. State) 28 Barry of thirteen pieces, Argent & Gules.

1994 B. F. Shearer & B. S. Shearer State Names, Seals, Flags, & Symbols iii. 49 The 1st and 4th quarters represent the arms of the Calvert family described in heraldic language as a paly of 6 pieces, or (gold) and sable (black).

14. The product or result of an art, craft, etc. Cf. sense 1c.

a. A painting, picture; a tapestry; †a portrait (obsolete).

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > painting and drawing > [noun] > a picture

metingOE

portraiturea1393

picture?a1425

piece1503

portrait1560

pictural1590

composure?1606

transumpt1629

composition1753

delineation1772

depictment1816

vraisemblance1857

piccy1865

pic1884

pitcher1915

pictorial1949

1503 in J. B. Paul Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1900) II. 214 Bocht..ane pece of Hercules..tua pecis of Susanna sewit togiddir.

1594 H. Plat Jewell House 51 (heading) To refresh the colours of olde peeces that bee wrought in oyle.

1663 S. Pepys Diary 27 Feb. (1971) IV. 59 There is also a very excellent piece of the King done by Holben.

1697 tr. Countess D'Aunoy's Trav. (1706) 173 I was all alone in my apartment, busie in painting a small Piece.

1742 Defoe's Tour Great Brit. (ed. 3) II. 214 A cloathed Resurrection Piece, painted by Sir James Thornhill.

1770 J. Langhorne & W. Langhorne tr. Plutarch Lives (1879) I. 183/1 The painter valued himself upon the celerity and ease with which he dispatched his pieces.

1843 N. Amer. Rev. Oct. 383 His first attempts in painting were church pieces, for which he was miserably paid.

1892 J. G. Brighton Adm. of Fleet 228 Two sea-pieces by Musin occupy a considerable space.

1947 R. Messner Selling Printing & Direct Advertising vi. 140 Both the simplest black-and-white pieces and the most elaborate productions in many colors.

1991 J. Richardson Life of Picasso I. iii. 40 ‘Two abandoned blooms’ is how Barrero dismissed his attempt at a flower piece.

b. A (usually short) literary composition; an article for a newspaper, journal, or similar publication.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > literature > a written composition > [noun]

i-writeOE

bookOE

writOE

workOE

pagine?c1225

lettrurec1330

dite1340

inditing1340

writing1340

scripta1350

dittya1387

stylea1400

scriptiona1425

framec1475

invention1484

piece1533

ditement1556

paperwork1577

composition1603

confection1605

composure?1606

page?1606

the written word1619

performance1665

literature1852

society > communication > journalism > journal > matter of or for journals > [noun] > article

piece1533

notice1592

article1701

contribution1714

magazine article1820

magazine paper1833

society > leisure > the arts > literature > prose > essay > [noun] > article

piece1533

article1701

column1926

1533 T. More Debellacyon Salem & Bizance Pref. f. iii^v Vnto one lytell pyece, one greate cunnynge man had made a long answere, of twelue whole shetys of paper.

1593 T. Churchyard Challenge 58 I haue written a little peece of the nature of a quarrell compounded on many accidents.

1643 Sir T. Browne Religio Medici (authorized ed.) i. §20 That Villain and Secretary of Hell, that composed that miscreant piece Of the Three Impostors .

1691 J. Ray Wisdom of God 28 There is a Posthumous piece extant, imputed to Cartes.

1710 Ld. Shaftesbury Soliloquy 175 That exteriour Proportion and Symmetry of Composition, which constitutes a legitimate Piece.

1775 S. Johnson Let. 22 May (1992) II. 209 I am not sorry that you read Boswel[l]'s Journal. Is it not a merry piece?

1824 J. Johnson Typographia I. 529 He printed most of Archbishop Cranmer's pieces.

1878 R. Browning Poets Croisic xxix A poet also, author of a piece Printed and published.

1936 D. Powell Turn, Magic Wheel i. 36 That..fellow who was always after him to write a ‘piece’ for the weekly he ran.

1995 J. Miller Voxpop v. 90 When you open the Sunday supplements there's always a piece on Jack Dee, Eddie Izzard or even Danny Baker.

c. A statue or sculpture.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > plastic art > sculpture or carving > [noun] > a sculpture or carving

graving1382

carvingc1384

similitudea1450

piece1579

insculpturea1616

sculpture1616

draught1646

cut1658

cutting1787

sculpc1845

mushroom stone1957

1579 W. Fulke Confut. Treat. N. Sander in D. Heskins Ouerthrowne 634 I do so honour auncient images, that I make as great account of a peece of Nero,..as I do of Constantius.

1629 J. Maxwell tr. Herodian Hist. 48 Most of the fairest Peeces in all the Citie, perisht in these flames.

1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 75 [A mountain] on whose Summit was a miraculous Piece hewed out of solid Stone.

1731 N. Amhurst Collection Poems 35 A curious Piece, compleat in every Part, The utmost Trial of her Plastick Art.

1757 tr. J. G. Keyssler Trav. II. 119 A marble boat placed before the church, and said to be a votive piece.

1870 R. W. Emerson Society & Solitude 45 In sculpture, did ever anybody call the Apollo a fancy piece?

1950 D. Gascoyne Vagrant 13 A hand-high Rodin piece.

1992 Independent 4 Feb. 15/1 One of the horrors of the past year was the piece by Sir Anthony Caro called Octagon Tower.

d. An artefact; a work of art; a production; a contrivance. See also masterpiece n. 1a.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > work > product of work > [noun]

workeOE

workingc1350

notea1400

piece of work1473

overage1474

workmanship1523

piece1604

opificec1616

jobbie1950

1604 E. Grimeston tr. J. de Acosta Nat. & Morall Hist. Indies v. viii. 349 They buried with them much wealth, as golde, silver, stones,..bracelets of gold, and other rich peeces.

1697 W. Dampier New Voy. around World xviii. 517 He busied himself in making a Chest,..he was as proud of it, as if it had been the rarest piece in the World.

1753 Scots Mag. Aug. 418/2 This antique piece appears to be a floor of a Roman sudatory.

1817 W. Gifford tr. Juvenal in Satires of Juvenal & Persius II. 71 The rough soldier, yet untaught by Greece To hang, enraptured, o'er a finish'd piece.

1881 H. James Portrait of Lady II. v. 74 Mr. Osmond continued to be the kindest of ciceroni, as he led her from one fine piece to another.

1904 H. James Golden Bowl I. vii. 141 Representative precious objects, great ancient pictures..fine eminent ‘pieces’ in gold, in silver..had for a number of years..multiplied themselves round him.

1992 N.Y. Times Mag. 13 Dec. 68/1 ‘We definitely have to have this piece in this collection,’ Krier insists.

e. A dramatic work, a play. Also in extended use, esp. in the villain of the piece.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > drama > a play > [noun]

playeOE

joyc1440

sportc1475

historya1509

drama?1521

stage playa1535

gameplay1560

show1565

device1598

piece1616

auto1670

action1679

natak1826

speakie1921

1616 B. Jonson Epicœne Prol., in Wks. I. 529 There will be some, That, when they leaue their seates, shall make 'hem say, Who wrot that piece, could so haue wrote a play.

1643 Sir T. Browne Religio Medici (authorized ed.) i. §47 In the last scene, all the Actors must enter to compleat and make up the Catastrophe of this great peece .

1728 A. Pope Dunciad i. 228 A past, vamp'd, future, old, reviv'd, new piece, 'Twixt Plautus, Fletcher, Congreve, and Corneille.

1781 R. B. Sheridan Critic i. i On the first night of a new piece they always fill the house with orders to support it.

1822 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 12 783 In the old dramatists of Greece, prologizing..formed..an integral portion of the structure of the piece.

1867 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest I. iv. 252 Arnulf, as usual, appears as the villain of the piece.

1933 E. K. Chambers Eng. Folk-play 13 Structurally, the piece falls into three parts: the Presentation.., the Drama.., the Quête.

1990 Amateur Stage Sept. 23/3 The piece is very dated and there is a strange sense of pathos in the attempts to recapture the magic of the particular period.

f. A musical composition, usually short, and either independent or forming a distinct part of a larger work.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > music > piece of music > [noun]

workOE

musica1586

composure?1606

composition1667

writings1672

morceau1748

op.1784

piece1825

opusc1840

confection1844

number1865

oeuvre1889

1737 Mem. Soc. Grub-St. I. 282 My Overture then, or opening piece, shall be played off in honour of our musicians.

1795 J. C. Murphy Trav. Portugal 251 He entered the room..and played a difficult piece in a masterly manner.

1825 J. Neal Brother Jonathan I. 95 Nobody can bear to hear..a favourite piece over and over again the same night.

1874 Atlantic Monthly Apr. 421 He..looks at the music, and if the piece interests him, he will call upon you.

1922 D. H. Lawrence Aaron's Rod (N.Y. ed.) xiii. 187 Lady Franks started with a vivace Schumann piece.

1992 Classic CD May 17/1 The whole piece is really quite light and airy and it ends on a very loud E flat chord.

g. A passage for recitation; a short speech. Now chiefly U.S. and English regional except in to say (also speak) one's piece: to have one's say, to express one's opinion on a subject or question; to make a statement.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > belief > expressed belief, opinion > personal opinion > express one's opinion [verb]

to speak one's mindc1500

to open one's budget1548

to speak (also give) one's sense1646

pronounce1801

to say (also speak) one's piece1822

the mind > language > speech > speech-making > recitation > [noun] > something to be recited or read aloud

lurryc1580

reciter1760

speaker1774

piece1822

speech1886

1822 C. M. Sedgwick New-Eng. Tale vi. 85 The young woman was to speak a piece of her own framing.

1865 C. F. Browne Artemus Ward his Trav. ii. i. 128 I have spoken my piece about the Ariel.

1895 ‘Rosemary’ Under Chilterns 83 All the ‘pieces’ that the children learnt to repeat at school they taught to her.

1941 U. Orange Tom Tiddler's Ground vi. 117 Lady Cameron was simply furious with me after that concert-party episode, when I just flatly refused to say my piece.

1973 J. Porter It's Murder with Dover xi. 115 ‘You didn't speak to Marsh again?’ ‘No. I'd said my piece.’

2003 Washington Times 9 Apr. c09 He..gives each caller a chance to say his piece before moving on.

h. slang (originally U.S.). A spray-painted graffiti mural.

ΚΠ

1980 N.Y. Times 19 Oct. vi. 58/2 ‘Doing my quick pieces,’ he says, ‘I get better style when I'm stoned. That's 'cause tagging is fun. A serious piece is more like sweat, like doing your homework.’

1995 P. Bourgois In Search of Respect (1997) v. 186 The best [graffiti] artists are able to maintain their ‘pieces’..for several weeks before they are defaced by competitors.

2003 Nation (Thailand) (Nexis) 22 Sept. Elaborate, multicoloured works called pieces by graffiti-writers are seen on walls or abandoned buildings everywhere.

15. A weapon; a firearm.

a. A cannon or similar large-calibre gun; spec. the barrel of such a weapon.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > firearm > piece of artillery > [noun]

gun1339

enginec1380

great gunc1430

ordnancec1450

cannona1460

piece1512

spitfire1611

tube1763

barker1815

by and by1857

big gun1886

centre-fire1889

1512 in J. B. Paul Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1902) IV. 460 To the quaryour..at makis stans to the small pecis in the bark.

1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie ii. xxiv. f. 65^v Diuers great and little peeces aswell of brasse as of yron.

1600 E. Fairfax tr. T. Tasso Godfrey of Bulloigne ix. liv. 170 So from a piece two chained bullets flie.

1669 S. Sturmy Mariners Mag. v. xii. 67 To know what Shot and Powder is meet for every Piece.

1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) Pieces, (in Warlike Affairs) signify Cannon or great Guns, as Battering-Pieces which are us'd at Sieges..: Field-pieces.

1769 W. Falconer Universal Dict. Marine at Range To fire a piece by way of the ricochet, the cannon is only charged with a quantity of powder sufficient to carry the shot along the face of the works attacked.

1811 Duke of Wellington Dispatches (1837) VII. 249 They ought to make an emplacement for their field pieces.

1875 C. Clery Minor Tactics x. 123 Part of the attacking force should be directed against the covering party and part against the pieces.

1923 R. Kipling Irish Guards in Great War I. 39 The enemy attacked—with rifle-fire and a close-range small piece.

1993 Washington Post (National Weekly ed.) 7 June 8/1 Enemy tanks and artillery pieces had been unscathed by the bombing raids.

b. A portable firearm; a handgun. Now slang.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > firearm > small-arm > [noun]

handgun1411

piece1575

small arms1685

popper1751

shooting-iron1775

pelter1827

squib1839

shooter1840

shooting-stick1845

Betsy1856

smoke-wagon1891

rod1903

gat1904

belt gun1905

roscoe1914

smoke-stick1927

heat1928

heater1929

smoke-pole1929

John Roscoe1932

1575 G. Gascoigne Complaint Greene Knight in Posies 183 My chaunce was late to haue a peerlesse firelock peece.

1581 T. Styward Pathwaie to Martiall Discipline i. 44 Such must haue..a good and sufficient peece, flaske, touch bore, pouder, shot, &c.

1591 G. Fletcher Of Russe Common Wealth xvi. f. 58^v The stocke of his piece is not made calieuer wise, but..somewhat like a fowling piece.

1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 332 Taught to handle all maner of weapons, but especially the bow, the peece, and the Scimitar.

a1656 R. Gordon Geneal. Hist. Earldom of Sutherland (1813) 216 Captane John Gordoun wes deidlie wounded with a peece, by one of the Earle of Murray his servants, at his verie first approach.

1704 London Gaz. No. 4044/3 Our Grenadiers..put their Bayonets in the Muzzles of their Pieces.

1788 J. Priestley Lect. Hist. v. lx. 475 Considering how many arrows might be drawn before one piece could have been loaded and discharged.

1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xvi. 674 Five hundred grenadiers rushed..to the counterscarp, fired their pieces, and threw their grenades.

1870 E. Peacock Ralf Skirlaugh III. 254 He knelt on one knee, and levelled his piece direct at William's head.

1956 ‘E. McBain’ Cop Hater (1958) x. 91 In this neighbourhood, you don't carry a knife or a piece, you're dead.

1992 V. Headley Yardie (1993) 126 All the youths carry pieces..and they just rob and shoot each other every day.

†c. A crossbow. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > archer's weapons > [noun] > bow > crossbow

arbalesta1100

arbalestrea1387

crossbow1432

pellock bow1537

latch1547

piece1590

stock-bow1598

steel bow1607

balister1679

arcubalist1774

oblest1780

1590 in W. H. Stevenson Rec. Borough Nottingham (1889) IV. 60 Quod dictus Fabianus non sagittabit in aliquo le peece ad aliquam rem vivam.

1598 R. Dallington View of Fraunce (1606) sig. T iv^v The Crossebowe... Once in a yere, there is in each city a shooting with the Peeces at a Popingay of wood.

1598 R. Dallington View of Fraunce (1606) sig. T ^v By this practise..he groweth more ready and perfit in the vse of his Peece.

16.

a. A coin. Frequently with modifying word, as crown piece, seven-shilling piece, tenpence piece, gold piece, etc. Cf. sense 1b.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > money > medium of exchange or currency > coins collective > [noun] > a coin

minteOE

crossc1330

coinc1386

cross and (or) pilea1393

penny1394

croucha1420

penny1427

piece1472

metal1485

piecec1540

stamp1594

quinyie1596

cross and pilea1625

numm1694

ducat1794

bean1811

dog1811

chinker1834

rock1837

pocket-burner1848

spondulicks1857

scale1872

chip1879

ridge1935

c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 1367 Maydons..no hede toke Of golde..ffongit no florence, ne no fyn pesys.

1575 in J. H. Burton Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1878) 1st Ser. II. 455 To be payit all in half merk pecis.

1617 F. Moryson Itinerary i. 289 They coyne any peece, of which they can make gayne.

1658 A. Wood Life & Times (1891) I. 241 A peice of p(ope) Jo(hn) the 23, and also a French peice.

1711 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1889) III. 102 The Gold Piece found in St. Gyles's Field.

1788 J. Priestley Lect. Hist. iii. xvi. 134 These pieces were not called farthings, but farthing tokens.

1845 R. Ford Hand-bk. Travellers in Spain I. i. 5 The value..of any individual piece is very uncertain.

1870 H. W. Henfrey Guide Eng. Coins i. 87 One-third guinea or seven-shilling piece.

1934 P. Allingham Cheapjack iv. 38 A shilling is also a ‘hole’, and a two-shilling piece is a ‘two-ender’.

1992 Looks July 52/1 Use a dollop of shampoo the size of a 10-pence piece to get your hair squeaky-clean.

b. piece of eight n. the Spanish silver dollar, or peso, worth eight reals and marked with the figure 8. Now historical.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > money > medium of exchange or currency > coins collective > foreign coins > [noun] > Spanish coins > silver > Spanish dollar

royal of plate1559

piastre1592

rial of eight1598

piece of eight1606

royal of eight1606

real of eight1612

rial1640

plate-piece of eight1680

cob1681

cross-dollar1689

duro1777

1606 E. Scott Exact Disc. East Indians sig. E3^v I profered them a peece of eight a man, which they much scorned.

1694 Narbrough's Acct. Several Late Voy. 97 The Spaniards..paid for what things they bought in good Pillar pieces of Eight.

1727 A. Hamilton New Acct. E. Indies II. xliv. 130 At Rambang I bought a cow..for two Pieces of Eight.

1790 R. Beatson Naval & Mil. Mem. I. 163 The Salisbury..took a Spanish ship, with one hundred and fifty thousand pieces of eight on board.

1840 J. F. Cooper Mercedes of Castile I. xv. 242 He slipped a piece of eight into the hand of the sailor.

1882 E. Arber Eng. Garner V. 227 (note) Peso..was the monetary Unit of Central America; afterwards known as the Piece of Eight, and is the Mexican dollar of the present day.

1929 Travel Jan. 17/2 And where lies the robber hoard—perhaps pieces of eight, onzas, massive golden jewels of Old Spain.

1998 Coin News May 40/3 It was denominated 8 Reales, which gave rise to its being called a ‘piece o' eight’ or ‘eight bits’.

†c. Any of various English gold coins current in different periods; spec. (a) the unite of James I; (b) a sovereign; (c) a guinea. See also broad-piece n. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > money > medium of exchange or currency > coins collective > English coins > [noun] > coin of twenty shillings

goldfinch1602

Harry sovereign1615

piece1631

jingle-boya1640

yellow boy1654

quid1661

marigold1663

broad-piece1678

pound piecea1715

gold penny1736

sovereign1817

dragon1827

sov1829

chip?1836

couter1846

thick 'un1848

monarch1851

James1858

skiv1858

Victoria1870

goblin1887

red one1890

Jimmy1899

quidlet1902

Jimmy O'Goblin1931

pound coin1931

society > trade and finance > money > medium of exchange or currency > coins collective > English coins > [noun] > unite or Jacobus

unite1604

Jacobite piece1611

Jacobine1612

Jacobus1612

piece1631

Jacob1662

sceptre1695

sceptre-piece1695

sceptre broad-piece1701

sceptre-unite1853

society > trade and finance > money > medium of exchange or currency > coins collective > English coins > [noun] > guinea or twenty-one shillings

goldfinch1602

piece1631

yellow boy1654

Guinea1666

broad gold1688

meg1688

broad1710

George's guinea1721

yellow1722

canary bird1785

stranger1785

yellow George1785

Geordie1786

spade-guinea1853

George guinea1880

1631 B. Jonson Divell is Asse iii. iii, in Wks. II. 133 What is't? a hundred pound?..No, th' Harpey, now, stands on a hundred pieces.

1660 S. Pepys Diary 14 Mar. (1970) I. 86 Here I got half a piece of a person of Mr. Wrights recommending to my Lord to be preacher in the Speaker frigate.

1706 R. Estcourt Fair Example iii. i. 34 Fifty Pieces are 50 Pound, 50 Shillings, and 50 Six-pences: I know what they are well enough, and you too.

1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Coin Guinea, or Piece.

1805 Earl of Liverpool Treat. Coins Realm 50 He reduced the Sovereign, or Piece of 20 Shillings of the new Standard, from 7 dwts, 4 grs. to 6 dwts, 10¾.

17. Chess. Any of the figures used in playing chess; esp. (more fully piece of honour, dignified piece) any of the more valuable figures, such as the king, queen, etc., as distinct from the pawns. Also in extended use, with reference to other games. Cf. man n.¹ 24.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > board game > [noun] > piece

manc1460

tableman1480

piece1562

counter1600

game piece1880

onesie1888

tile1923

gamesman1931

meeple2000

society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > board game > chess > [noun] > pieces > a piece

chess1303

chequer1474

chessmen1474

piece1562

pin1688

chess man1853

1562 tr. Damiano da Odemira Pleasaunt Playe of Cheasts sig. Aiv The principle is to knowe the pieces, to wit, the name, the number, and the seat of euery one.

1591 J. Florio Second Frutes 262 A. Doth it pleese you then to play at the chesse..? S. Order your peeces.

a1649 W. Drummond Hist. Scotl. (1655) 263 In this case they [sc. pawns] are surrogated in those void Rooms of the pieces of honour, which because they suffered themselves to be taken, were removed off the Boord.

1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory (1905) iii. xvi. 67/1 What peice or man soeuer of your owne you touch or lift from its place, you must play it for that draught where you can.

1745 P. Stamma Noble Game of Chess 112 Look first whether your Adversary cannot pin that Piece down.

1799 P. Pratt Theory of Chess iii. 19 Never cover him [sc. the king] from check by placing a dignified piece in that manner, that a commoner of the adversary..could take him.

1816 Stratagems of Chess (1817) 11 Place the queen, bishop or castle behind a pawn or a piece.

1898 S. Culin Chess & Playing Cards 836 Set of thirty-two domino pieces of teak wood.

1950 Official Gaz. (U.S. Patent Office) 10 Jan. 334/2 The Production and Marketing Corporation, Newtown, Conn... Scrabble. For Game including Board and Playing Pieces.

1991 Sci. Amer. Nov. 17 Stiller designed his program to analyze all possible endgames involving two kings, four pieces and no pawns.

18. British regional (chiefly Scottish, Irish English, and English regional (northern)) and U.S. regional. A portion of bread, esp. eaten on its own rather than as part of a meal; a sandwich; (gen.) a morsel of food, a snack, a light meal.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > bread > piece of bread > [noun] > slice of bread

shivea1250

shiverc1386

sheavec1480

round1769

piece1787

1619 A. Simson in W. K. Tweedie Sel. Biogr. (1845) I. 103 He took a piece and blessed it.

c1660 S. Rutherford Christs Napkin 15 The bairn that is greeting..for a piece or a drink.

1768 A. Ross Fortunate Shepherdess 28 Rest you bony hen, An' tak a piece, your bed's be made the ben.

1787 A. Shirrefs Jamie & Bess iv. i. 55 Neither tak' her siller nor a piece.

1834 Chambers's Edinb. Jrnl. 3 254/2 Receiving each a piece and jelly on't from granny, because they were guid bairns.

1878 C. Hallock Sportsman's Gaz. (ed. 4) 696 Piece, a lunch, a snack (Pennsylvania).

1949 ‘J. Tey’ Brat Farrar xix. 175 Saturday afternoon was a holiday for the Ashby children and they were accustomed..to take a ‘piece’ with them and pursue their various interests in the countryside.

1995 K. Atkinson Behind Scenes at Museum (1996) 64 Frank remembered he had pieces in his jacket pocket..and they sat and ate the squashed squares of bread and strawberry jam.

19.

a. Chiefly North American. Originally: a package of furs or other goods weighing about ninety pounds (approx. 41 kg). Now historical.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > merchandise > [noun] > load or lot of specific size or abundance

ladec897

cheapc1384

shock1582

commodity1592

allotment1703

piece1774

break1864

lot1872

bulka1888

chance lot1888

trucklot1943

society > travel > aspects of travel > a journey > [noun] > equipment for a journey > baggage

trousseauc1230

harnessc1330

fardel1388

flittinga1400

stuff?a1400

baggagec1430

trussellc1440

carriagec1450

trussagec1500

traffic1538

trussery1548

traffe1566

sumpture1567

truss1587

needment1590

luggage1596

sumptery1620

piece1809

traps1813

roll-up1831

dunnage1834

kit1834

way baggage1836

swag1853

drum1861

swag bag1892

1774 S. Hearne Jrnl. 11 Oct. (1934) 122 By the Masters account..65 or 70 Packs or Caggs, called by them Pieces, are put on board each canoe.

1809 A. Henry Trav. & Adventures Canada i. ii. 24 The method of carrying the packages, or pieces, as they are called, is the same with that of the Indian women.

1899 Westm. Gaz. 15 May 10/1 The postal establishment of the United States..handles more pieces, employs more men, spends more money..than any other human organisation, public or private.

1931 G. L. Nute Voyageur 38 Each package, or piece, was made up to weigh ninety pounds, and two ears were left at the top by which the voyageur could lift it easily in the manner of a modern flour bag.

1972 T. McHugh Time of Buffalo viii. 89 A single sack, weighing about ninety pounds, was known as a ‘piece’ of pemmican, and made a convenient parcel for back-packing or portaging.

b. gen. An article of luggage; an item of property in transit.

ΚΠ

1890 T. M. Cooley et al. Railways Amer. 253 The cases in which pieces go astray are astonishingly rare.

1914 W. D. Steele Storm 274 The man on the steps had taken up his luggage, but now he put the two pieces down again.

1999 South China Morning Post (Hong Kong) 15 Oct. 24/4 I have seen passengers lugging two large pieces on board.

20. Malting. A batch or quantity of barley spread out for steeping; = floor n.¹ 6b.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > drink > manufacture of alcoholic drink > malting > [noun] > steeping grain > quantity for steeping

wetting1720

piece1832

1832 W. Champion Maltster's Guide 43 The turning of his floors or pieces.

1885 H. Stopes Malt & Malting xix. 346 When a floor is finished, it is the rule with all good maltsters to sweep up between pieces.

1921 J. Ross-mackenzie Brewing & Malting ii. 14 The maltster..avoids excessive sprinkling of water on the ‘pieces’.

1965 O. A. Mendelsohn Dict. Drink 259 Piece, the maltster's term for barley undergoing germination. It can be No. 1, 2, 3 Piece according to stage.

21. Chiefly Australian and New Zealand. Sheep-shearing. In plural. Oddments of wool separated from the skirtings of a fleece; (also) the skirtings themselves.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > fleece > [noun] > parts of

breeching1799

breech1805

piece1849

britch1884

neck1928

1849 Times 3 Sept. 3/6 White at 7d. to 7³/ ₄d., and locks and pieces, 5¹/ ₄d. to 6¹/ ₄d.

1891 R. Wallace Rural Econ. Austral. & N.Z. xxix. 384 The washing of wool, either before or after shearing, is, with the exception of locks and pieces, which are generally scoured, almost entirely given up.

1951 L. G. D. Acland Early Canterbury Runs 378 Fleece, the main part of a sheep's wool, which is picked up in one, skirted, and rolled. This is sold as fleece wool, as opposed to locks, bellies, and pieces.

1971 J. S. Gunn Distrib. Shearing Terms New S. Wales 20 The south was the only area where..there was a preference for pieces rather than skirtings.

2003 Dominion Post (Wellington, N.Z.) (Nexis) 14 Nov. 8 Second shear bellies and pieces, average style, nominally unchanged; average/poor and poor, 2 to 3 per cent cheaper.

22. In plural. Sugar of inferior quality, obtained from a later boiling of the sugar liquor.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > additive > sweetener > [noun] > sugar > crystal sugar

pieces1867

crystals1875

turbinado1909

coffee sugar1926

1867 Produce Markets Rev. 13 July 161/1 The character of the Pieces Sugar made in London retrogrades rather than improves as a whole.

1884 Western Morning News 4 Sept. 6/5 Sugar..London pieces, rather quiet, steady.

1907 Yesterday's Shopping (1969) 42 When Members order White Moist Sugar, it is understood that a low grade Sugar is required, known in the trade as ‘Pieces’.

1957 R. W. Beachey Brit. W. Indies Sugar Industry ii. 49 Much of the sugar from the sugar colonies went to the refiners of moist sugar ‘pieces’.

1971 ‘P. Hobson’ Three Graces xiii. 129 He'd been sent to get sugar for their teas... ‘Golden,’ he said..and the girl at the counter said ‘You mean pieces.’

23. A player in an orchestra or band; (in extended use) the instrument played.Now chiefly in singular with prefixed numeral, esp. forming an attributive phrase, as four-piece band, etc.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > music > musician > instrumentalist > [noun] > member(s) of orchestra or band

concerteer1826

piece1869

personnel1938

1869 Times 14 July 4/5 There were 10,000 people in the place and the orchestra numbered 500 pieces.

1912 Ladies' Home Jrnl. May 70/2 We had..a band consisting of fourteen pieces (three mouth organs and eleven combs).

1925 F. S. Fitzgerald Great Gatsby iii. 48 The orchestra has arrived, no thin five-piece affair, but a whole pitful of oboes and trombones and saxophones.

1938 Melody Maker 27 Aug. 11/4 Billy will use his 14-piece stage band.

1965 New Yorker 2 Jan. 40/1 The only band we had trouble with..was the Savoy Sultans, the house group at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem. They only had eight pieces, but they could swing you into bad health.

1992 C. Thubron Turning back Sun viii. 53 A three-piece orchestra was playing Glinka and Borodin on a dais, and a few couples were dancing.

24. Each of the irregular sections of a jigsaw puzzle. Frequently in extended use.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > entertainment > toy or plaything > puzzle > [noun] > jig-saw puzzle > piece

piece1908

1908 Decatur (Illinois) Rev. 29 Nov. 13/3 To make the puzzle cut out the twenty pieces carefully and then fit them neatly together.

1955 H. Kurnitz Invasion of Privacy (1956) ix. 67 There might be something about this case he doesn't understand, a missing piece somewhere. It spoils the picture for him.

1973 G. Scott Water Horse (1974) xxii. 152 If Oliver were really involved in this organization, then certain jigsaw pieces could fall more satisfactorily into place.

1991 U. Markham Your Four Point Plan for Life (BNC) 100 Tip out all the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle onto the table and turn the pieces the right way up.

25. U.S. slang. A quantity of a drug (esp. morphine, heroin, or cocaine) approximately equal to an ounce in weight; (gen.) a dose of a drug.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > an intoxicating drug > [noun] > a quantity of

piece1935

twister1936

stash1942

trey1967

weight1971

eight ball1987

the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > an intoxicating drug > [noun] > a) narcotic drug(s) > morphine, cocaine, or heroin > heroin > quantity or dose of

piece1935

Jack1967

spoon1968

1935 A. J. Pollock Underworld Speaks 2/2 Piece, a, an ounce of morphine, cocaine or heroin.

1945 W. J. Spillard Needle in Haystack viii. 77 ‘I hava da pieces—pure stuff.’ Pieces was an underworld term for ounces.

1963 U.S. Rep. (Supreme Court) 371 474 Johnny kept about a piece of heroin. [Note] A ‘piece’ is approximately one ounce.

1986 R. A. Spears Slang & Jargon of Drugs & Drink 386 Piece, one ounce of drugs; one ounce of heroin; a dose of drugs.

Phrases

P1. in pieces: in fragments, broken apart, disintegrated; (figurative) divided, at odds. in (also into, †on, †a) pieces: into portions or fragments, apart; (figurative) into disarray. †to take in pieces: to separate the parts of; (figurative) to analyse (obsolete).

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > dissent > at variance [phrase]

in (also into, on, a) piecesa1275

in strife1398

at traversc1448

at issue1474

at a strife1488

at variancea1535

at square1545

at (a) jar1552

at (or to) daggers' drawing1556

at (a) mutiny1567

in (a) mutiny1567

at wrig-wrag1599

at daggers drawn1668

at (or at the, on the) outs1824

loggerhead1831

at daggers' points1857

at swords' points1890

the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > separation or breaking up into constituent parts > into (small) pieces [phrase]

in (also into, on, a) piecesa1275

(all) to shiversc1275

to piecesc1300

asundera1325

to set in sunderc1325

in sunderc1390

in, into shredsc1400

in small1419

in piecemeal?a1425

in piecemealsa1470

by piecemeals1576

in shivers1589

in or into splinters1612

a1275 St. Margaret (Trin. Cambr.) l. 176 in A. S. M. Clark Seint Maregrete & Body & Soul (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Michigan) (1972) 61 He [sc. a dragon] barst a two peces.

c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 1456 (MED) Þat spere..brast on peces þre.

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vii. 4525 Achias..kut it into pieces twelve.

c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. xxi. 62 The wal of þe temple to-cleef euene a two pices.

a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll.) 50 Arthurs swerde brake in two pecis.

a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 23 They so sore fought that hir shyldis felle on pecis.

1562 Bp. J. Pilkington Expos. Abdyas Pref. 9 The forther that the bowe is drawen, the sooner it flies in pieces.

1600 J. Pory tr. J. Leo Africanus Geogr. Hist. Afr. iii. 133 The butchers cut their flesh a peeces, and sell it by weight.

1659 T. Burton Diary (1828) IV. 480 This takes in pieces your whole form.

1697 W. Dampier New Voy. around World viii. 215 His Ship..being old and rotten fell in pieces.

1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison IV. iv. 21 We are all in pieces: we were in the midst of a feud, when you arrived.

1762 D. Hume Hist. Eng. (new ed.) VI. ii. 59 The instrument of government was taken in pieces, and examined, one article after another.

1842 T. B. Macaulay Virginia in Lays Anc. Rome 163 Must I be torn in pieces?

1876 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest (ed. 2) IV. xviii. 193 When they submitted, their army..at once fell in pieces.

1944 R. Lehmann Ballad & Source 222 We've torn them in pieces and bunged them into a giant's stew-pot.

1991 M. Frutkin Invading Tibet viii. 138 Three Gurkhas leapt forward, slicing him into pieces with their kukris.

P2.

a. to pieces: into fragments; apart, asunder; (figurative) into a state of disorganization, confusion, or ruin.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > separation or breaking up into constituent parts > into (small) pieces [phrase]

in (also into, on, a) piecesa1275

(all) to shiversc1275

to piecesc1300

asundera1325

to set in sunderc1325

in sunderc1390

in, into shredsc1400

in small1419

in piecemeal?a1425

in piecemealsa1470

by piecemeals1576

in shivers1589

in or into splinters1612

c1300 St. Oswald (Laud) 24 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 46 And to-brak it al to smale peces.

c1330 (?c1300) Bevis of Hampton (Auch.) 790 (MED) On þe scholder he smot þe bor; His spere barst to pises þore.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 6542 (MED) Þe tables þat in hand he bare To pees [a1400 Fairf. in peces] he þam brak.

a1475 (?a1350) Seege Troye (Harl.) (1927) 1761 (MED) Houndis myght gnawyn him to pecis.

c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) cxvii. 419 Our shyp brast all to pecys.

1588 T. Hariot Briefe Rep. Virginia sig. C2 They make them victuall..by boyling them all to pieces into a broth.

1615 T. Adams Blacke Devill 46 It shall breake to peeces, like a pot-sheard.

1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory ii. xiv. 321/1 Others have a softer Shell, or a tender or brittle Crust: which are easily bruised and broken to peeces.

1700 Moxon's Mech. Exercises: Bricklayers-wks. 16 Pulling the Building to pieces after it is begun.

1740 S. Richardson Pamela I. 144 She has huffed poor Mr. Williams all to-pieces.

1815 A. Plumptre tr. H. Lichtenstein Trav. S. Afr. (1930) II. 82 Every sort of vegetable which, like cabbage, spinage or sorrel, is cut to pieces and dressed with Cayenne pepper.

1880 M. E. Braddon Just as I Am xix We should tumble to pieces without you.

1923 H. Crane Let. 21 July (1965) 140 The center of such pain as would tear me to pieces to tell you about.

1993 R. Lowe & W. Shaw Travellers 46 The trailer just fell off the back of the truck that was towing it and got smashed to pieces.

b. to take to pieces.

(a) To separate (a thing) into constituent parts, to dismantle (literal and figurative); to reduce to ruin or disarray.

ΚΠ

1622 H. Peacham Compl. Gentleman ix. 76 (note) This Heauen was carried by 12. men before Solyman, and taken to peeces and set vp againe by the maker.

1651 S. Sheppard Epigrams iii. xxix. 55 And scorn'st to have those judge thy poesie..Who take the lines to pieces that they read.

1700 W. Congreve Way of World i. i. 6 She once us'd me with that Insolence, that in Revenge I took her to pieces.

1791 Times 6 Aug. 2/4 To remedy this almost unfelt inconvenience, you would take to pieces a finely planned and ably directed movement.

1820 W. Scoresby Acct. Arctic Regions I. 207 (note) Empty casks are..taken to pieces, and the staves closely packed up in a cylindrical form.

1860 R. W. Emerson Beauty in Conduct of Life (London ed.) 248 Chemistry takes to pieces, but it does not construct.

1910 Times 10 Oct. 10/1 In other words the British Constitution is to be taken to pieces.

1993 Rugby World & Post May 28/2 Ask the Australians what they thought of him after they were beaten here in November. Robert took them to pieces that afternoon.

(b) To be designed to be taken apart and reassembled; to be able to be dismantled.

ΚΠ

1724 R. Bradley Gen. Treat. Husbandry & Gardening III. 64 I contrived the Raising of Fruits of all Kinds, in Cases or Boxes, that might take to pieces at Pleasure.

1765 Gentleman's Mag. Dec. 557/1 The whole machine takes to pieces at different joints.

1825 M. Edgeworth Harry & Lucy Concluded III. 178 Harry had long ago learned the principles of roofing, from a little model which his father had made for him. It took to pieces, and could be put together again.

1881 W. W. Greener Gun & its Devel. 78 Guns..so constructed as to take to pieces and stow away in a small compass.

1921 Mod. Poultry Keeping 14 Sept. 211/1 It is just as easy to make a run which takes to pieces, as a permanent one.

1999 M. Milne No Telephone to Heaven v. 180 I checked our baggage and found Jackie's high chair missing. It..had been made by the Awka Guild and was a very successful piece of work. It took to pieces for travelling.

c. to go (also be, come) (all) to pieces: (a) to break up, fall apart, lose cohesion; (b) figurative (colloquial), to fall into confusion or disarray; to become so distracted as to be unable to behave normally.

ΚΠ

1622 T. Dekker & P. Massinger Virgin Martir ii. sig. F The smocke of her charity is now all to peeces.

1667 S. Pepys Diary 29 Aug. (1974) VIII. 406 The Court is at this day all to pieces, every man of a faction of one sort or another.

1725 N. Uring Relation Late Intended Settlement Islands St. Lucia & St. Vincent 111 The Casks very often came to Pieces in getting up to the Store-Houses.

1776 Ann. Reg. 1775 185/1 The Abby,..having lately gone to pieces on the Stags near Kenrule..the captain, mate, and two common men..were cast upon the lower stags.

1832 F. A. Kemble Jrnl. in Rec. of Girlhood (1878) III. 215 I thought I should have come to pieces in his hands, as the housemaids say of what they break.

1892 ‘M. Twain’ Amer. Claimant xvii. 173 The hackman will just go all to pieces when he sees that.

1957 A. MacNab Bulls of Iberia ii. 26 Once a grand herd under the old Duke, now gone all to pieces.

2001 Times 27 Feb. i. 36/8 McGarrell was dropped next ball by Vikram Solanki at slip and England went to pieces.

d. to fall to pieces: (a) to break up, come apart, disintegrate; also figurative; (b) colloquial (now Australian), to give birth.

ΚΠ

1623 G. Markham Countrey Contentments i. 204 If..you should take vp the wooden mat, it woild presently crack and fall to peeces.

1665 R. Hooke Micrographia 133 The casual slipping out of a Pin had made several parts of his Clock fall to pieces.

1703 T. D'Urfey Old Mode & New i. i. 14 She has all the Symptoms of Maturity that are possible, and burn me like a Toast, if I did not rise three times thinking she would fall to pieces last night.

1750 P. Shaw Reflector iii. 291 The Athenian State was still subject to the same Weaknesses as before; and fell to Pieces even in the Life-time of its Founder.

1802 W. Paley Nat. Theol. xix. 355 The..chrysalis..also, in its turn, dies; its dead and brittle husk falls to pieces.

1881 S. Evans Evans's Leicestershire Words (new ed.) 212 Anybody can say what's the matter wi' yew wi' 'af a oy. Ye'r a-gooin' to fall to paces.

1941 S. J. Baker Pop. Dict. Austral. Slang 28 Fall to pieces,..to undergo confinement, to give birth to a child.

1990 Illustr. London News Summer 70/3 The lower parts of two sarcophagi were found to be broken and the mummies they contained had fallen to pieces.

e. (all) to pieces: to a great degree, completely, through and through. Now colloquial.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > wholeness > completeness > completely [phrase] > thoroughly > from beginning to end or through and through

to the boneOE

through and throughc1225

out and outc1300

from top to tail1303

out and inc1390

(from) head to heel (also heels)c1400

(from) head to foot (also feet)c1425

from top to (into, unto) toec1425

to the skin1526

to one's (also the) finger (also fingers') ends1530

from first to last1536

up and down1542

whole out1562

to the pith1587

to the back1594

from A to (also until) Z1612

from clew to earing1627

from top to bottom1666

back and edge1673

all hollow1762

(all) to pieces1788

from A to Za1821

to one's (also the) fingertips1825

to one's fingernails1851

from tip to toe1853

down to the ground1859

to the backbone1864

right the way1867

pur sang1893

from the ground up1895

in and out1895

from soda (card) to hock1902

1788 ‘P. Pindar’ Proœmium in Wks. 366 'Tis most extraordinary then, all this is—It beats Pinetti's conjuring all to pieces.

1840 C. F. Hoffman Greyslaer I. i. x. 114 I know the ground here all to pieces.

1892 W. G. Lyttle Ballycuddy 79 She wud a pleesed ye a' tae pieces, an' wud a been charmed tae a haen a minister fur a son-in-law.

1925 Dial. Notes 5 325 I knows un all to pieces.

1958 L. Uris Exodus iii. iii. 351 Ari! I love you to pieces!

1989 B. A. Mason Love Life 123 I just love him to pieces.

P3.

a piece n. (for) each object or individual unit of a group, set, or class; each. Frequently used adverbially, esp. in stating the unit price, weight, etc., of something. Also occasionally the piece, each piece, every piece, per piece. Formerly also (Scottish): † ilk piece (obsolete). See also apiece adv.In Scotland and northern England sometimes used of people as well as things. Cf. French la pièce.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > individual [phrase] > individually or separately > each piece

a piece1418

1418 Inquisition Misc. (P.R.O.: C 145/296/10) m. 3 xxx basenettes prec. le pece vj s. viij d.

c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) 5474 Lamprays of weȝt twa hundreth pond ay a pece.

1480 Table Prouffytable Lernynge (Caxton) (1964) 44 The good candelmaker Gyueth foure talow candellis For one peny the pece [Fr. le piece].

1531 W. Tyndale Answere Mores Dialoge f. xxx^v Y^e pope..sett vppe in Rome a stues of .xx. or .xxx. thousand hores, takynge of every pece tribute yerly.

1553 in J. H. Burton Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1877) 1st Ser. I. 150 Thai had payit ane grott for the heid off ilk peax [of cattle] for thair poindlaw.

1600 J. Pory tr. J. Leo Africanus Geogr. Hist. Afr. vii. 289 Horses..sold againe for fortie and sometimes for fiftie ducates a piece.

c1650 J. Spalding Memorialls Trubles Scotl. & Eng. (1850) I. 81 The bischopis had causit imprint thir bookis..and sould haue gottin fra ilk minister four pundis for the peice.

1697 J. Pollexfen Disc. Trade & Coyn sig. A5^v Fat Oxen were often sold at 6s. per piece.

1721 Session Bk. Rothesay (1931) 361 James Stewart as justice of peace fined them in ten pounds Scots the piece.

1797 J. Sinclair Statist. Acct. Scotl. XIX. 48 A fine of a cow the piece [sc. each person].

1825 J. Neal Brother Jonathan I. 54 A ‘twig o' cider’ a piece.

1864 B. Taylor John Godfrey's Fortunes xxv. 328 There are scores of retail dry-goods merchants who would give fifty dollars a piece to have their establishments mentioned in a novel or a play.

1913 C. Murray Hamewith 57 Lang-leggit Time, but he was fleet When we'd a lass the piece.

1989 Daily Nation (Nairobi) 26 July 18/3 For a lorry load of hard core stone, two men earn Sh30 a piece.

P4. piece of work n.

a. A product of work; something produced or manufactured, esp. a work of art or literature.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > work > product of work > [noun]

workeOE

workingc1350

notea1400

piece of work1473

overage1474

workmanship1523

piece1604

opificec1616

jobbie1950

1473 in J. D. Marwick Extracts Rec. Burgh Edinb. (1869) I. 27 That all..that thinkis to be maisteris mak twa peis of wark sufficient belanging hattis-making.

?1544 J. Heywood Foure PP sig. C.ii Here is an eyetoth of the great Turke Whose eyes be on[es] sette on thys pece of worke May happely lese parte of his eye syght.

1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 941 The kings Chapell at Westminster,..one of the most excellent peeces of worke, wrought in stone, that is in Christendome.

1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet ii. ii. 305 What peece of worke is a man, how noble in reason, how infinit in faculties, in forme and moouing, how expresse and admirable.

1678 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. i. 12 You may have occasion sometimes to Braze..a piece of work.

1739 A. Hill in S. Richardson Corr. (1804) I. 36 I was so very a boy when I suffered that light piece of work to be published.

1803 T. Sheraton Cabinet Dict. 316 Tambour doors are often introduced, in small pieces of work, where no great strength or security is requisite.

1876 H. James Roderick Hudson iii. 114 Rowland went into Roderick's studio and found him sitting before an unfinished piece of work.

1915 V. Woolf Voy. Out xxiv. 387 She was indeed very proud that she had finished her book... Also she thought that it was a good piece of work.

1991 N.Y. Mag. 11 Mar. 110/1 Steven Keats stars in Jerry Sterner's thoroughly professional piece of work.

b. A task, a difficult undertaking; (figurative) a commotion or fuss.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > duties > [noun] > piece of work or task

workOE

notec1400

turnc1480

piece of work1533

job1557

employment1579

task1597

spot of work1689

day job1798

number1928

the world > action or operation > undertaking > [noun] > an undertaking > thing(s) to be done > a (difficult) task

workOE

piece of work1533

job of work1557

tesh1596

task1597

stunt1880

aufgabe1902

dreich1984

the world > relative properties > order > disorder > confusion or disorder > commotion, disturbance, or disorder > [noun] > instance of

viretotec1386

moving?a1439

reela1450

stir1487

songa1500

pirrie1536

hurly-burly1548

make-a-do1575

confusions1599

the hunt is upa1625

ruffle1642

fuss1701

fraction1721

fizza1734

dust1753

noration1773

steeriea1776

splorea1791

rook1808

piece of work1810

curfuffle1813

squall1813

rookerya1820

stushie1824

shindy1829

shine1832

hurroosh1836

fustle1839

upsetting1847

shinty1848

ructions1862

vex1862

houp-la1870

set-out1875

hoodoo1876

tingle-tangle1880

shemozzle1885

take-on1893

dust-up1897

hoo-ha1931

tra-la-la1933

gefuffle1943

tzimmes1945

kerfuffle1946

1533 N. Udall Floures for Latine Spekynge f. 129 Suarum rerum satagit. He hath ynough to do of his owne, or, he hath a busye piece of werke of his own to doo.

1594 R. Carew tr. J. Huarte Exam. Mens Wits viii. 103 It were an infinite peece of worke.

1619 Visct. Doncaster Let. in S. R. Gardiner Lett. Relations Eng. & Germany (1865) 1st Ser. 133 To perswade them to hearken to a treaty would prove a tough piece of worke.

1665 T. Manley tr. H. Grotius De Rebus Belgicis 520 A very difficult piece of Work..to quiet all the right side of the Rhine.

1715 tr. D. Gregory Elements Astron. I. iii. §39. 462 It would be a tedious piece of work to take out the two component parts with their Signs.

1762 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy V. vii. 44 We shall have a terrible piece of work of it in stubbing the ox-moor.

1810 Sporting Mag. 36 262 He kept jawing us, and making a piece of work all the time.

1843 C. Dickens Martin Chuzzlewit (1844) xxx. 355 What are you making all this piece of work for..?

1911 F. H. Burnett Secret Garden ix. 86 It was a serious piece of work to write to Dickon.

2003 Florida Times-Union (Nexis) 6 Apr. c19 ‘You would like to say you could do that every day, but it's quite a piece of work’, Russell said, referring to his team scoring 28 runs.

c. colloquial (frequently derogatory). A person, esp. one notable for having a strong (usually unpleasant) character. Usually with modifying word; cf. nasty adj. 2c.

ΘΚΠ

the world > people > person > [noun]

hadc900

lifesmaneOE

maneOE

world-maneOE

ghostOE

wyeOE

lifeOE

son of manOE

wightc1175

soulc1180

earthmanc1225

foodc1225

person?c1225

creaturec1300

bodyc1325

beera1382

poppetc1390

flippera1400

wat1399

corsec1400

mortal?a1425

deadly?c1450

hec1450

personagec1485

wretcha1500

human1509

mundane1509

member1525

worma1556

homo1561

piece of flesh1567

sconce1567

squirrel?1567

fellow creature1572

Adamite1581

bloat herringa1586

earthling1593

mother's child1594

stuff1598

a piece of flesh1600

wagtail1607

bosom1608

fragment1609

boots1623

tick1631

worthy1649

earthlies1651

snap1653

pippin1665

being1666

personal1678

personality1678

sooterkin1680

party1686

worldling1687

human being1694

water-wagtail1694

noddle1705

human subject1712

piece of work1713

somebody1724

terrestrial1726

anybody1733

individual1742

character1773

cuss1775

jig1781

thingy1787

bod1788

curse1790

his nabs1790

article1796

Earthite1814

critter1815

potato1815

personeityc1816

nibs1821

somebody1826

tellurian1828

case1832

tangata1840

prawn1845

nigger1848

nut1856

Snooks1860

mug1865

outfit1867

to deliver the goods1870

hairpin1879

baby1880

possum1894

hot tamale1895

babe1900

jobbie1902

virile1903

cup of tea1908

skin1914

pisser1918

number1919

job1927

apple1928

mush1936

face1944

jong1956

naked ape1965

oke1970

punter1975

1713 in J. Cartwright et al. Rep. MSS Duke of Portland (1931) X. 298 I believe your Lordship will have nothing to do with him he being a whidling, dangerous, piece of work and not to be trusted.

1872 T. Hardy Under Greenwood Tree i. 180 There was a terrible whispering piece of work in the congregation, wasn't there, naibour Penny?

1908 K. McGaffey Sorrows of Show Girl 28 Say, that piece of work..on the end..is all to the berries, ain't she?

1936 ‘N. Blake’ Thou Shell of Death vii. 122 She..had been Fergus's mistress. She is a pretty grand piece of work.

1993 D. Irvin Behind Bench xix. 299 He was funny that way. He was a real piece of work.

P5.

a. piece by piece: one part after another in succession, little by little, gradually.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > part of whole > [phrase] > piecemeal

by piecemealc1325

piece by piecea1500

piece and piecea1522

by lumps1576

in piecemeal1693

in piecemeals1715

(in or by) dribs and drabs1809

a1500 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun Oryg. Cron. Scotl. (Nero) viii. Prol. 21 And pesse be pesse ay for to wryte.

1587 G. Turberville Tragicall Tales f. 89^v Then willd he all the Ladies limmes..To be vptaken, peece by peece.

1629 F. Quarles Argalus & Parthenia iii. 142 Peece by peece, they dropt vpon the ground.

1674 C. Cotton tr. B. de Montluc Commentaries ii. 88 Whoever will break a Peace..let him..make all the noise at one clap; for if he go piece by piece, he is certain to lose either a leg or a wing.

1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 65 Had the calm Weather held, I should have brought away the whole Ship Piece by Piece.

1786 T. Jefferson Let. 25 Jan. in Papers (1954) IX. 218 They are too feeble to hold them till our population can be sufficiently advanced to gain it from them peice by peice [sic].

1820 W. Scoresby Acct. Arctic Regions II. 175 Two men..then carried it [sc. blubber] piece by piece to a stage or platform erected by the side of the works.

1877 C. H. Spurgeon Serm. XXIII. 208 The great architect unrolls his drawings piece by piece.

1932 Extension Mag. Feb. 20/1 She was still smiling as she took the clothes out, piece by piece, and dropped them into the suds-filled washtub.

1994 E. L. Doctorow Waterworks 200 He was recomposing their lives piece by piece.

†b. Scottish. piece and piece = piece by piece at Phrases 5a. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > part of whole > [phrase] > piecemeal

by piecemealc1325

piece by piecea1500

piece and piecea1522

by lumps1576

in piecemeal1693

in piecemeals1715

(in or by) dribs and drabs1809

a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1959) vii. viii. 120 Syne peis and peys the flude boldnys so fast.

1597 A. Montgomerie Cherrie & Slae 258 I felt my hairt within my bosome melt, and peece and peece decay.

1604 King James VI & I Counterblaste to Tobacco sig. C4 No man likes strong headie drinke the first day..but by custome is piece and piece allured.

1681 S. Colvil Mock Poem ii. 22 Then piece and piece they dropt away, As ripe Plumbs in a rainy day.

1721 R. Wodrow Corr. (1843) II. 550 Piece and piece as your leisure allows, pray send me what hath been remarkable as to religion and learning this last year.

1768 A. Ross Fortunate Shepherdess 78 Sae piece an' piece they lift them as they dow, An' see't all ocean down into the how.

P6.

piece of one's mind n. an opinion, esp. a candid one; (in later use chiefly) a rebuke, criticism, or scolding.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > rebuke or reproof > [noun] > instance of

admonishingc1350

reproofc1400

fliting1435

rebuke?a1439

snibc1450

reprehensiona1500

redargution1514

remorda1529

piece of one's mind1536

check1541

snuba1556

rebuking1561

boba1566

sneap1600

snipping1601

reprimand1636

repriment1652

rubber1699

slap1736

twinkation1748

rap1777

throughgoing1817

dressing-down1823

downset1824

hazing1829

snubbing1841

downsetting1842

raking1852

calling1855

talking toc1875

rousting1900

strafe1915

strafing1915

raspberry1919

rousing1923

bottle1938

reaming1944

ticking-off1950

serve1967

1536 J. Husee Let. 4 June in Lisle Papers (P.R.O.: SP 3/12) f. 70 Goodall is an honest man, to whom I haue shewed a piece of my mynde.

1572 Bp. Sandys in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1827) 2nd Ser. III. 24 Thus am I bolde to unfolde a peece of my mynde.

1668 J. Dryden Secret-love ii. iii. 15 I have told her a piece of my mind already.

1742 H. Fielding Joseph Andrews I. ii. iv. 160 I should have insisted to know a piece of her Mind, when I had carried matters so far.

1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield II. xii. 190 I never either loved you or liked you, and I don't care if I tell you now a piece of my mind.

1838 C. Dickens Let. ?25 Oct. (1965) I. 445 Kate boasts..of having told you ‘a piece of her mind’.

1861 Mrs. H. Wood East Lynne II. ii. xiii. 149 The justice was giving her a ‘piece of his mind’.

1914 W. Owen Let. 24 May (1967) 256 Now it is Wednes. and I have had with delight your news. I shall hope to have an important piece of your mind on Sunday.

1998 P. Jooste Dance with Poor Man's Daughter (1999) ii. 51 If I ever hear Gloria Daniels' name..I'll give the person who says it a piece of my mind.

P7. in (also †of) one piece: consisting of a single element, part or body; undivided, uniform; (figurative) unharmed, undamaged, intact.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > wholeness > as a whole [phrase] > whole or intact

in (also of) one piece1566

the world > relative properties > wholeness > as a whole [phrase] > in a single piece

in (also of) one piece1566

at a lump1596

of a piece1607

in a lump1640

all of a lumpc1681

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Exod. xxxvii. 22 The knoppes & braunches..were all one pece of fyne beaten golde.]

1566 T. Blundeville Arte of Rydynge (rev. ed.) iii. xxviii. f. 78^v, in Fower Offices Horsemanshippe Whole portes ought to be rounde, and made all of one pece, and not broken, or ioyned together in the top.

1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie ii. xvi. 50 [An] obelisquie of coloured stone all of one peece 50. cubits high.

c1626 H. Bisset Rolment Courtis (1922) II. 200 Germannis [made] the boit of ane pece.

1672 in Proc. Soc. Antiquaries Scotl. (1880) 14 329 Each steppe being of one peece.

1704 J. Harris Lexicon Technicum I Monopetalous Flowers..are..all of one piece.

1794 D. Steel Elements & Pract. Rigging & Seamanship I. 239 Buss, a Dutch fishing-vessel with three short masts, each in one piece.

1818 Times 17 Sept. 3/5 About 5 feet of the trunk, with roots sufficient to keep it firmly upright, all in one piece, is now standing in the midst of the quarry.

1885 Bible (R.V.) Exod. xxxvii. 8 Of one piece with the mercy-seat made he the cherubim at the two ends thereof.

1929 D. Hammett Dain Curse (1930) xiii. 141 I returned to the ravine..reaching the bottom all in one piece with nothing more serious the matter with me than torn fingers.

2004 Sunday Tribune (Nexis) 29 Feb. 8 A marvellous, long and slightly curved, forged metal tool, made in one piece.

P8.

a. of a piece: (a) consisting of a single part, mass, or body; (b) of one and the same kind or quality; uniform, consistent, in accordance.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > relationship > uniformity > [adjective]

oneOE

consimilec1400

suinga1425

even?c1425

agreeable1512

uniform1540

consemblable?1541

suant1547

constantc1550

just?1556

similar1563

similary1564

unvaried1570

uniformal1574

consimilar1577

homogeneana1601

homogeneal1603

homogene1607

invariable1607

of a piece1607

undistinguisheda1616

univocal1615

immutable1621

uniformable1632

solemn1639

homogeneous1646

consistent1651

pariformal1651

self-consistent1651

congeniousa1656

level1655

undiversificated1659

equal1663

of one make1674

invarieda1676

congenerous1683

undiversified1684

equable1693

solid1699

consisting1700

tranquil1794

unbranching1826

horizontal1842

sole1845

self-similar1847

homoeomeric1865

equiformal1883

monochrome1970

the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > in agreement or harmony (with) [phrase]

in onea1400

according1523

in unison1604

of a piece1607

in concert1618

in consort1634

in tone1647

at unison1661

of a piece with1665

true1735

in suit with1797

in harmony1816

of a suit with1886

in tune1887

in key1919

tuned in1958

all-of-a-piece1960

the world > relative properties > wholeness > as a whole [phrase] > in a single piece

in (also of) one piece1566

at a lump1596

of a piece1607

in a lump1640

all of a lumpc1681

1607 G. Chapman Bussy D'Ambois iii. i. 40 In thy valour th'art like other naturals, That haue strange gifts in nature, but no soule Diffus'd quite through, to make them of a peece.

1663 S. Butler Hudibras: First Pt. i. ii. 106 He and his Horse were of a piece. One Spirit did inform them both.

1700 J. Dryden Fables Pref. sig. *Cij He writes not always of a piece; but sometimes mingles trivial Things, with those of greater Moment.

1792 H. H. Brackenridge Mod. Chivalry I. iii. v. 81 I am for having all things of a piece; ignorant statesmen, ignorant philosophers, and ignorant ecclesiastics.

1812 M. Edgeworth Absentee vi, in Tales Fashionable Life VI. 26 After all, things were not of a piece; there was a disparity between the entertainment and the attendants.

1873 T. Hardy Pair of Blue Eyes III. xi. 209 Deception, dishonesty, everywhere; all the world's of a piece!

1992 Mind 101 54 Perhaps one only admits into the ontology those stray bits of matter which are of a piece.

b. all of a piece: all in one; all of the same kind or quality.

ΚΠ

1612 G. Chapman Widdowes Teares iv. sig. I O happy starres. And now pardon Ladie; me thinks these [kisses] are all of a peece.

1639 N. N. tr. J. Du Bosc Compl. Woman ii. 23 Those Nations who make their Doublet and Shirt all of a peece.

1726 J. Swift Gulliver I. i. ii. 40 One of them was covered, and seemed all of a piece.

1914 G. B. Shaw Misalliance 71 It's all of a piece here. The men effeminate, the women unsexed.

1956 A. Wilson Anglo-Saxon Attitudes ii. ii. 318 Goodness isn't all of a piece..any more than badness.

2000 J. Kent in A. Hastings et al. Oxf. Compan. Christian Thought 197/2 The evidence that suggested that the world as it was might not have been created by divine agency all of a piece and not very long ago.

c. of a piece with: in accordance with; consistent or commensurate with.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > in agreement or harmony (with) [phrase]

in onea1400

according1523

in unison1604

of a piece1607

in concert1618

in consort1634

in tone1647

at unison1661

of a piece with1665

true1735

in suit with1797

in harmony1816

of a suit with1886

in tune1887

in key1919

tuned in1958

all-of-a-piece1960

the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > [adjective] > specific with or to something

accordable1386

convenientc1400

agreeablea1450

to be standing withc1487

consonanta1492

consowningc1503

correspondenta1533

quadrant1536

constant1574

suitablea1586

uniforma1586

congruous1599

responsible1600

consentaneous1621

sympathizinga1627

consistible1642

consistent1646

consentany1648

consonate1649

quadratea1657

consonous1660

consentient1661

of a piece with1665

symmetrious1667

unison1675

consisting1700

one with ——a1848

congruent1875

1665 R. Boyle Occas. Refl. iv. ii. sig. Aa6 None appear'd more of a piece with the Earth than he.

1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 256. ¶3 It is not of a Piece with the rest of his Character.

1742 H. Walpole Let. 30 June in Lett. to H. Mann (1833) I. 172 It was of a piece with her saying, ‘that Swift would have written better, if he had never written ludicrously’.

1811 J. Austen Sense & Sensibility I. xxi. 294 The jokes..raised a curiosity..which, though often impertinently expressed, was perfectly of a piece with her general inquisitiveness.

1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. ii. 233 All their proceedings were of a piece with this demand.

1916 J. Galsworthy Caravan (1925) 579 Mr. Bosengate looked at this peach with sorrow rather than disgust. The perfection of it was of a piece with all that had gone before this new and sudden feeling.

1990 N. Bissoondath Eve of Uncertain Tomorrows (1991) 71 It all seemed of a piece with his parents' acceptance of his newly acquired adulthood.

P9.

piece of flesh n. (also piece of flesh and blood) a living person, a human being.

ΘΚΠ

the world > people > person > [noun]

hadc900

lifesmaneOE

maneOE

world-maneOE

ghostOE

wyeOE

lifeOE

son of manOE

wightc1175

soulc1180

earthmanc1225

foodc1225

person?c1225

creaturec1300

bodyc1325

beera1382

poppetc1390

flippera1400

wat1399

corsec1400

mortal?a1425

deadly?c1450

hec1450

personagec1485

wretcha1500

human1509

mundane1509

member1525

worma1556

homo1561

piece of flesh1567

sconce1567

squirrel?1567

fellow creature1572

Adamite1581

bloat herringa1586

earthling1593

mother's child1594

stuff1598

a piece of flesh1600

wagtail1607

bosom1608

fragment1609

boots1623

tick1631

worthy1649

earthlies1651

snap1653

pippin1665

being1666

personal1678

personality1678

sooterkin1680

party1686

worldling1687

human being1694

water-wagtail1694

noddle1705

human subject1712

piece of work1713

somebody1724

terrestrial1726

anybody1733

individual1742

character1773

cuss1775

jig1781

thingy1787

bod1788

curse1790

his nabs1790

article1796

Earthite1814

critter1815

potato1815

personeityc1816

nibs1821

somebody1826

tellurian1828

case1832

tangata1840

prawn1845

nigger1848

nut1856

Snooks1860

mug1865

outfit1867

to deliver the goods1870

hairpin1879

baby1880

possum1894

hot tamale1895

babe1900

jobbie1902

virile1903

cup of tea1908

skin1914

pisser1918

number1919

job1927

apple1928

mush1936

face1944

jong1956

naked ape1965

oke1970

punter1975

1567 W. Painter Palace of Pleasure II. xxi. f. 149 Some other there be that fixe their mindes vpon yong men..louyng rather a piece of flesh with two eyes in his head, than an honest man well furnyshed wyth vertue.

1593 Tell-Trothes New-yeares Gift (1876) 30 Oh, she is a tall peece of flesh.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) iv. ii. 128 Why should we be tender, To let an arrogant peece of flesh threat vs?

1675 C. Cotton Burlesque upon Burlesque 60 A sturdy piece of flesh, and proper, A merry Grig, and a true Toper.

1715 C. Johnson Country Lasses i. i. 9 Mine is the most beautiful Piece of Flesh and Blood.

1777 T. Benjamin Polit. & Relig. Conduct of Dissenters 49 All but ‘one daughter of godliness’, and a fine piece of flesh and blood she was.

1850 Ladies' Repository Aug. 252/1 That piece of flesh and blood, by which the majesty of the British empire is represented.

1894 Overland Monthly May 538/1 Shall the sword of justice forbear to strike because a little fairer piece of flesh and blood stands beneath?

1949 H. Croy Jesse James was my Neighbour xiv, in Maryville (Missouri) Daily Forum 15 July 6/6 The more Jesse talked to him, the more he became convinced he wanted nothing to do with such a miserable piece of flesh.

2001 Baltimore Sun (Nexis) 27 June 1 b I was the first piece of flesh and blood to get back to the old country since my parents immigrated.

P10.

a. by the piece: at a rate (of pay) of so much for each item produced, etc.; according to the amount done. Cf. piecework n. 1.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > working > [adverb] > at piecework

by the piece1703

on (the) piece1879

1703 R. Neve City & Countrey Purchaser 23 These Posts are..made by the Piece, viz. 1d..per Post.

1776 A. Smith Inq. Wealth of Nations I. i. viii. 100 Workmen,..when they are liberally paid by the piece, are very apt to over-work themselves.

1807 R. Southey in J. W. Robberds Mem. W. Taylor (1843) II. 209 I think such work is good enough to be paid by the piece.

1859 J. M. Jephson & L. Reeve Narr. Walking Tour Brittany iii. 23 I could not ascertain whether they worked by the day or by the piece.

1935 Times 30 Sept. 22/5 The pace at which the work is done depends on the fillers. It is therefore the fillers who are paid by the piece.

2003 Seattle Times (Nexis) 3 Aug. g3 At first I was paid by the piece, but I worked pretty fast, so my pay was changed to minimum wage.

b. on (the) piece: paid on the basis of piecework. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > working > [adverb] > at piecework

by the piece1703

on (the) piece1879

1879 Printing Trades Jrnl. No. 29. 40 An employer is not bound to provide constant work for a man on the piece.

1903 Stationer, Printer & Fancy Trades' Reg. 1 Aug. 364/2 At present linotype operators work on piece, that is to say, they are paid according to the work they do.

1911 Rep. Labour & Social Conditions in Germany (Tariff Reform League) III. 96 Those on ‘piece’ earn from 49s. to 58s. 9d. per week. All the men are on ‘piece’, and work 53 hours per week.

P11.

piece of goods n. colloquial (chiefly derogatory) (a) a person, usually a woman; (b) (in later use) a person who has an unpleasant character (cf. piece of work n. at Phrases 4).

ΘΚΠ

the world > people > person > woman > [noun]

wifeeOE

womaneOE

womanOE

queanOE

brideOE

viragoc1000

to wifeOE

burdc1225

ladyc1225

carlinec1375

stotc1386

marec1387

pigsneyc1390

fellowa1393

piecec1400

femalea1425

goddessa1450

fairc1450

womankindc1450

fellowessa1500

femininea1513

tega1529

sister?1532

minikinc1540

wyec1540

placket1547

pig's eye1553

hen?1555

ware1558

pussy?a1560

jade1560

feme1566

gentlewoman1567

mort1567

pinnacea1568

jug1569

rowen1575

tarleather1575

mumps1576

skirt1578

piga1586

rib?1590

puppy1592

smock1592

maness1594

sloy1596

Madonna1602

moll1604

periwinkle1604

Partlet1607

rib of man1609

womanship?1609

modicum1611

Gypsy1612

petticoata1616

runniona1616

birda1627

lucky1629

she-man1640

her1646

lost rib1647

uptails1671

cow1696

tittup1696

cummer17..

wife1702

she-woman1703

person1704

molly1706

fusby1707

goody1708

riding hood1718

birdie1720

faggot1722

piece of goods1727

woman body1771

she-male1776

biddy1785

bitch1785

covess1789

gin1790

pintail1792

buer1807

femme1814

bibi1816

Judy1819

a bit (also bundle) of muslin1823

wifie1823

craft1829

shickster?1834

heifer1835

mot1837

tit1837

Sitt1838

strap1842

hay-bag1851

bint1855

popsy1855

tart1864

woman's woman1868

to deliver the goods1870

chapess1871

Dona1874

girl1878

ladykind1878

mivvy1881

dudess1883

dudette1883

dudine1883

tid1888

totty1890

tootsy1895

floozy1899

dame1902

jane1906

Tom1906

frail1908

bit of stuff1909

quim1909

babe1911

broad1914

muff1914

manhole1916

number1919

rossie1922

bit1923

man's woman1928

scupper1935

split1935

rye mort1936

totsy1938

leg1939

skinny1941

Richard1950

potato1957

scow1960

wimmin1975

womyn1975

womxn1991

1727 Coll. Misc. Lett. Mist's Weekly Jrnl. IV. xxx. 176 Then that reverend Matron, Mother N—, gets a fresh Piece of Goods in her Way.—And last, the Town gets a W—.

1733 C. Johnson Cælia iii. i. 26 They teaz'd me for a fresh Piece of Goods.

1794 W. Godwin Caleb Williams I. iii. 48 Such a ridiculous piece of goods as this outlandish, foreign-made Englishman.

1809 B. H. Malkin tr. A. R. Le Sage Adventures Gil Blas I. i. ii. 19 She seemed a pretty piece of goods enough.

1895 T. Pinnock Black Country Ann. in Eng. Dial. Dict. (1903) IV. 492/1 Her's a nice piece o' goods to be a skule guvness.

1922 J. Joyce Ulysses ii. iv. [Calypso] 64 A wild piece of goods. Her slim legs running up the staircase.

1955 Ld. Chancellor in Hansard Lords 8 Dec. 1241 I should ask the noble and learned Earl for his considered construction of the phrase ‘a nice piece of goods’.

2002 Ottawa Citizen (Nexis) 30 June c11 The man who was an unfaithful husband and, when drunk, a rather nasty piece of goods.

P12.

piece of resistance n. = pièce de résistance n.

ΚΠ

a1797 E. Burke Fourth Let. Peace Regicide Directory France in Writings & Speeches (1991) IX. 48 Our appetite demands a piece of resistance.

1858 T. J. Hogg Life Shelley I. 459 The good girl liked a piece of resistance, a solid tome.

1894 G. Du Maurier Trilby I. 239 The pieces of resistance and plum-pudding and mince-pies.

1924 Musical Times Mar. 220/2 The piece of resistance in the fiftieth lesson..is a Rhapsodie Originale, by F. Hurstmonceux.

2006 Las Vegas Rev.-Jrnl. (Nexis) 7 Nov. 8 e The piece of resistance is Lara Lanae Freeborn as the very experienced and very bitter Trisha.

P13.

piece of ass n. (also piece of tail, piece of skirt, piece of stuff) depreciative (chiefly North American slang) a woman, esp. one regarded as an object of sexual gratification; (hence in extended use) sexual relations, esp. of a casual nature.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual partner > [noun] > woman considered in sexual terms or as a sexual partner

cunnya1593

watermilla1626

piece of ass1816

fuck1870

gash1914

assa1916

mama1916

bim1922

pigmeat1926

nookie1928

screw1937

poontang1945

poon1947

trim1955

a bit (or piece) of crumpet1959

leg1968

a1663 Viscount Falkland Mariage Night (1664) ii. 11 A Fair young Lady and Widow is A rich piece of Stuff Rumpled.]

1816 J. Wolcot Wks. Peter Pindar II. 342 Betty was not a bad piece of stuff.

1857 J. Holland Let. 14 May in N. L. Syrett Company he Keeps (2009) 75 I did get one of the nicest pieces of ass some day or two ago.

1922 Los Angeles Times 28 July iii. 3/6 The whole of this amazing crime revolves, as it were, round a piece of skirt?

1929 E. M. Dahlberg Bottom Dogs vii. 122 The prohibition kansanites who came over to the missouri side of the Caw to get their camels, saturdaynite booze, and a piece of tail.

1957 J. Braine Room at Top (1960) 227 There was no Joe Lampton, only a commercial traveller from Dufton having a jolly evening with a hot piece of stuff.

1978 J. Krantz Scruples ii. 21 He..thought she was a flaming, fabulous piece of ass.

2000 Managem. Today 31 May 23 Her manager referred to female staff as ‘hot totty’, ‘chicks’ and ‘pieces of skirt’.

P14. to pick up the pieces: see to pick up 13 at pick v.¹ Phrasal verbs 1.

P15.

piece of cake n. colloquial something easy or pleasant.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > easiness > [noun] > that which is easy

ball play?c1225

child's gamec1380

boys' play1538

walkover1861

picnic1870

pudding1884

cakewalk1886

pie1886

cinch1888

snipa1890

pushover1891

pinch1897

sitter1898

pipe1902

five-finger exercise1903

duck soup1912

pud1917

breeze1928

kid stuff1929

soda1930

piece of cake1936

doddle1937

snack1941

stroll1942

piece of piss1949

waltz1968

1936 O. Nash Primrose Path 172 Her picture's in the papers now, And life's a piece of cake.

1960 T. McLean Kings of Rugby 205 They took the field against Canterbury as if the match were ‘a piece of cake’.

2002 Evening News (Edinb.) (Nexis) 25 Oct. 23 Compared with some of his past exploits, the job is a piece of cake for Andrew.

P16.

piece of piss n. British, Australian, and New Zealand slang (originally R.A.F.) something very easily accomplished; = piece of cake n. at Phrases 15.

ΚΠ

1949 E. Partridge Dict. Slang (ed. 3) Add. 1134/2 Piece of piss, a ‘piece of cake’... R.A.F.: 1940+.

1974 J. Anthoine in H. MacInnes Climb to Lost World (1976) x. 182 There was a real awkward bit; then the next twenty foot was a piece of piss and I thought: ‘Oh, great, we've cracked it.’

1981 G. Johnston Fish Factory 84 I've got it all worked out and your part is a piece of piss.

1997 T3 Jan. 89/3 If you own the right gear, making dance music is a piece of piss.

P17.

piece of shit n. coarse slang (originally and chiefly U.S.) a worthless or despicable person or thing; also attributive.

ΚΠ

1942 S. Bellow Lett. (2010) 27 The current issue of Story..was full of a coarse-grained piece of shit by WB himself, a fictional version of the life of Robert Burns.

1959 J. Kerouac Doctor Sax 39 If I ain't an old piece of shit but you look like a goddam fat ass old cow tonight Charlie.

1970 R. Thorp & R. Blake Music of their Laughter 183/1 It's that fucking M-16—at very close range, it's a piece of shit.

1987 Re: More Misinformation about Pot in alt.flame (Usenet newsgroup) 31 Oct. What a stupid piece of shit reasoning.

2002 N. Walker Blackbox (2003) 98 ‘I'm sure it'll work out soon.’ ‘You piece of shit.’ ‘Stop calling me that.’

Compounds

piece bag n. U.S. a bag for holding pieces of cloth.

ΘΚΠ

the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture textile fabric or that which consists of > manufacture of textile fabric > treating or processing textile fabric > [noun] > bag or box for pieces of cloth

ragbag1820

piece bag1863

piece box1872

snip-bag1880

1863 L. M. Alcott Jrnl. Nov. in E. D. Cheney L. M. Alcott (1889) vii. 148 I cleared out my piece-bags and dusted my books.

1900 E. A. Dix Deacon Bradbury 251 Mr. Bradbury..sought his wife, who was upstairs sorting over her piece-bag.

1954 Bridgeport (Connecticut) Sunday Post 7 Nov. a11/7 These by-products were sorted, tied in bundles and put into a ‘piece bag’.

piece box n. (a) U.S. rare a box for holding pieces of cloth; (b) Scottish a box for holding a light meal or snack; a lunch box (cf. sense 18).

ΘΚΠ

ragbag1820

piece bag1863

piece box1872

snip-bag1880

1872 Scribner's Monthly Sept. 638/2 Cinderella's coach began in a pumpkin, and our gown shall graduate from the piece-box.

1928 J. Corrie Last Day 19 ‘Aweel’, said Jock, dumping his piece-box on the ‘pavement’.

1963 G. Snyder & N. S. Yost Time on my Hands (1986) xi. 118 That evening I brought out my piece box.

† piece-bright adj. Obsolete bright in parts.Apparently an isolated use.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > light > intensity of light > [adjective] > in places

piece-bright1877

1877 G. M. Hopkins Poems (1967) 67 This piece-bright paling shuts the spouse Christ home.

piece compositor n. a compositor who is paid by the piece ( Phrases 7).

ΚΠ

1872 in E. Howe London Compositor (1947) x. 284 It becomes a matter of the utmost difficulty for the piece compositor in many houses..to earn the means of decent subsistence.

1904 T. Mackellar in T. L. De Vinne Pract. Typogr.: Mod. Methods Bk. Composition viii. 329 It is expected..that the piece-compositor will distribute type taken from the closet.

piece fractions n. Typography type used in setting fractions, cast in two parts, each being half the depth of the normal size of type (also called split fractions).

ΚΠ

1900 T. L. De Vinne Pract. Typogr. 174 Piece fractions, or split fractions in two pieces, or on two bodies, are not proper parts of the font, and are sold in separate fonts at higher rates.

1970 R. K. Kent Lang. Journalism 102 Piece fractions, figures (each on its own body) half the depth of the size of type with which they are to be printed, with a horizontal or slant line over the denominator so they may be made up into fractions: also called split fractions.

piece hall n. now chiefly historical an exchange or other building in which cloth is sold by the piece (sense 4a).

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > trading place > a centre of commerce > [noun] > place where merchants meet > for specific goods

Coal Exchange1755

piece hall1776

Corn-Exchange1794

cloth-hall1836

1776 T. Fairfax Memoirs 24 The utility of the Piece-Hall, will..prove a great and permanent benefit, not only to the Proprietors, but also to the Merchant, Manufactor, Farmer, [etc.].

1821 J. Nicholson Seige of Bradford 26 A public house the only piece-hall was, And one small table held the merchants' store.

1995 R. M. Cooper Literary Guide & Compan. to Northern Eng. ii. 139 Its centuries-old Piece Hall is the only surviving manufacturers' hall in Britain.

piece-hand n. = piece compositor n.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > printing > printer > [noun] > compositor > paid by the piece

piece-hand1847

1847 in E. Howe London Compositor (1947) 186 We all along wished to procure for the piece-hands works which have hitherto been done by boys.

1947 E. Howe London Compositor 60 The piece-hand could reckon to earn more [than the establishment wage], by the exercise of both energy and skill.

† piece-knife n. Obsolete rare a penknife incorporating a number of blades and other implements.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > equipment > cutting tool > knife > [noun] > other knives

bollock knifec1400

paring knife1415

spudc1440

pricking-knifec1500

shaving-knife1530–1

by-knifec1570

heading knife1574

stock knife1582

drawing knife1583

bung-knife1592

weeding knife1598

drawing knife1610

heading knife1615

draw knife1679

dressing knife1683

redishing knife1688

mocotaugan1716

skinning knife1767

paper knife1789

draw shave1824

leaf-cutter1828

piece-knife1833

nut-pick1851

relic knife1854

butch1859

straw-knife1862

sportsman's companion1863

ulu1864

skinner1872

hacker1875

over-shave1875

stripping-knife1875

Stanley knife1878

flat-back1888

gauge-knife1888

tine-knife1888

plough1899

band-knife1926

X-Acto1943

shank1953

box cutter1955

ratchet knife1966

ratchet1975

1833 J. Holland Treat. Manuf. Metal II. 17 The piece-knives, or sportsmans' knives, as those complex articles containing saws, lancets, phlemes, gun-screw, punches, large and small blades, &c. used to be called.

piece labour n. = piecework n. 1.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > work > [noun] > piecework

task-work1486

piecework1549

setwork1720

job work1780

measured work1834

measure-work1852

great work1855

piece labour1859

1859 S. Smiles Life George Stephenson 310 Their tools and machinery were imperfect; they did not understand the economy of time and piece labor.

2003 Portland (Maine) Press Herald (Nexis) 19 June 8 b They do labeling, hang-tagging and stuff here, there's always a need for different kinds of piece labor.

† piece looker n. Obsolete rare a person who inspects cloth woven in pieces (sense 4a).

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > one who sees > [noun] > of cloth

piece looker1867

1867 Morning Star 28 Jan. J. Moloney, piece looker.

piece man n. now rare a pieceworker.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to conditions > [noun] > employee > piece-worker

tasker1621

pieceworker1757

piece man1815

piecemaker1839

1815 S. Ogden Thoughts 22–1 in I. Cohen Amer. Managem. & Brit. Labor iii. 69 The piece man is actively industrious at his work, and takes no note of time.

1912 Times 15 May 7/1 The abnormal places grievance is effectually disposed of by the concession of a minimum of 5s. 6d. plus allowances for hewers and other piecemen.

† piece market n. Obsolete the commercial market for cloth sold by the piece (sense 4a).

ΚΠ

1826 Adams Sentinel (Gettysburg, Pa.) 23 Aug. The woollen cloth market at Leeds and Huddersfield, and the piece market at Bradford, all continue in a state of extreme depression.

1883 Daily News 28 Sept. 2/7 The piece market is without material alteration.

piecemaster n. now rare (a) a small-scale tradesman; (b) a foreman who organizes the distribution of piecework for an employer.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > worker > employer > [noun] > other specific employers

piecemaster1747

nooi1850

ship-worker?1881

1747 R. Campbell London Tradesman xxxix. 144 These kind of Piece-Masters are paid according to the Work.

1837 W. B. Adams Eng. Pleasure Carriages 174 A class of small tradesmen called piece-masters, who work for a very small profit, getting up a single carriage at a time and selling it the moment it is made.

1849 H. Mayhew in Morning Chron. 9 Nov. 5/2 I get them from a person who gets them from the warehouse. These intermediate persons are called piece-masters.

1979 Hist. Educ. Q. 19 482 In Oldham..the new pacemakers of the cotton industry, the piecemasters and small spinners, assumed control.

1999 Human Resource Managem. Jrnl. (Nexis) 9 20–38 It was the piecemaster or contractor who set a pace which the rest had to follow.

† piecemoney n. Obsolete money distributed in charity at a particular rate.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > grants and allowances > [noun] > allowance > distributed at so much a piece

piecemoney1610

1610 Accts. St. John's Hosp., Canterbury (Canterbury Cathedral Archives: CCA-U13/5) Item payd in pesse mony xvijs. vjd.

1642 Accts. St. John's Hosp., Canterbury (Canterbury Cathedral Archives: CCA-U13/5) Payed to 38 brothers and sisters for peesmoney xixs.

piece-mould n. Sculpture a mould which can be removed in pieces and then reassembled; (also) a mould consisting of separate pieces of metal, etc., fitted together upon the model.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > plastic art > modelling > [noun] > casting methods > mould

mould1530

intaglio1825

print1847

piece-mould1867

mother mould1898

negative1911

waste mould1929

1867 Chambers's Information for People (new ed.) I. 335/1 This preparation is pressed into plaster piece-moulds, backed with paper, and then, when sufficiently set, removed to a drying room to harden.

1895 Daily News 20 June 6/3 A piece-mould is made upon the statue itself, and from this a hollow wax statue is cast.

1990 Antique Collector Oct. 60/1 A statue cast from the master's clay model or his original piece-mould.

piece-patch n. (frequently attributive) a piece of material used as a patch; also figurative.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > materials > types of material generally > [noun] > patch of material for mending

clouta700

patcha1382

piece?c1430

speckc1440

piece-patch1880

1639 J. Fletcher et al. Bloody Brother ii. i. sig. C4 This peece-patch friendship; This reard up reconcilement on a billow.

1786 H. Lemoine Kentish Curate I. 216 No tale in a tub here; no piece-patch wicker basket work in this beauty of holiness!

1880 L. S. Floyer Plain Hints Examiners Needlework 27 A straight stitch 6 or 8 threads deep on each piece-patch and material.

1963 in Jrnl. Amer. Folklore (1979) 92 275 (title) Piece-Patch Artistry.

piece-patched adj. now rare patched up, decorated with patches; also figurative.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > amending > restoration > [adjective] > restored > in a makeshift manner > of friendship

piece-patched1640

1640 J. Fletcher Trag. Rollo Duke of Normandy i. vi. 15 There is no manly wisdome nor no safety In leaning to this league, this peece patcht friendship.

1799 Gentleman's Mag. 69 446/1 These piece-patched walls.

2000 News & Rec. (Greensboro, N. Carolina) (Nexis) 19 June a1 Burlington Industries was touting..dyed denim, spray-painted denim and piece-patched denim.

piece payment n. payment according to the amount produced, sold, etc.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > payment for labour or service > [noun] > of manual workers > pay according to specific system

time payment1852

piece wage1866

piece payment1900

1900 Catholic World Sept. 788 Piece-payment and premiums already form a powerful incentive to diligence.

2003 Irish Times (Nexis) 19 May 5 The rates of pay of those surveyed ranged from ‘piece payments’ for fruit-pickers to between €1.25 and €2.50 an hour for forestry workers and €14 for a nurse.

piece picker n. New Zealand = fleece-picker n. at fleece n. Compounds 2; cf. sense 1d.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > sheep-farming > sheep-shearing > [noun] > sheep-shearer > fleece-picker

picker-up1611

fleece-picker1861

fleece-o1894

piece picker1899

1899 G. Jeffrey Princ. Australasian Woolclassing 51 The skirtings are thrown on the floor until the ‘Piece Pickers’ gather them up and sort them.

1989 N.Z. Eng. Newslet. iii. 27 Because of the variety of functions shedhands perform the names they are known by are also varied. For example..‘wool roller’, ‘piece picker’.

piece price n. the amount paid for each item of piecework.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > monetary value > price > [noun] > other specific prices

subscription price1676

mint price1758

standard1778

pool price1789

O.P.1810

stumpage1835

mint value1839

maximum price1841

piece price1865

street price1865

supply price1870

base price1876

hammer-price1900

doorbuster1917

off-price1933

reference price1943

1865 Sci. Amer. 25 Feb. 129/2 The work of both wet and dry printing is done by journeymen for what are technically termed ‘piece prices’—that is a given price per thousand sheets for the number of impressions printed.

1895 Westm. Gaz. 21 Mar. 2/2 The question which underlies all surface disputes is that of fixing piece-prices for the new machinery which is being introduced into the trade.

1983 J. Hinton Labour & Socialism iii. 56 The union..initially opposed the strike against cuts in piece prices that broke out in December 1890.

piece stuff n. now rare lumber or timber in pieces.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > wood > wood in specific form > [noun] > timber in pieces

felling1338

piece stuff1876

1876 Oshkosh (Wisconsin) Daily Northwestern 4 Dec. Lumber Market... Common Boards and Planks..; Piece Stuff.

1881 Chicago Times 14 May The cargo..consisting of short length piece-stuff.

1953 Oshkosh (Wisconsin) Daily Northwestern 4 June . 8/5 The retail price of white pine piece stuff was $10 per thousand feet.

piece trade n. now rare = piece market n.

ΚΠ

1864 Times 15 July 10/2 There was a much quieter feeling in the piece trade.

1944 Times 17 Oct. 7/5 Considerable activity continues in the piece trade as result of the announcement last week of export market allocations.

piece velvet n. now rare velvet made in pieces (sense 4a) rather than as narrow ribbons.

ΘΚΠ

the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric made from specific material > made from silk > [noun] > types of > velvet > types of

silk velvet1530

refusado1598

French velvet1602

cut velvet1840

piece velvet1871

ring velvet1895

1871 W. D. Howells Their Wedding Journey in Atlantic Monthly Nov. 621/2 The piece-velvets and the linens smote her to the heart.

1919 Mansfield (Ohio) News 19 Apr. 17/2 (advt.) Small lot staple millinery, chiffon,..feathers, piece velvet, [etc.].

piece wage n. a wage paid for piecework.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > payment for labour or service > [noun] > of manual workers > pay according to specific system

time payment1852

piece wage1866

piece payment1900

1866 Times 18 Oct. 12/2 I have an application from Berkshire at day wages of 11s. a week, and piece wages during the summer of from 13s. to 20s. a week.

1900 Fabian News Sept. 28/2 This ‘log’..is ‘a remarkable effort to adjust a piece-wage rate on a time-wage basis’.

2001 Business Econ. (Nexis) 1 Apr. 9 It was more efficient to employ workers on a salary base rather than pay them a piece wage.

Derivatives

ˈpieceless adj. rare without pieces.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > wholeness > [adjective] > united into a whole > without pieces or parts

piecelessa1631

one-piece1880

monolithica1902

a1631 J. Donne Poems (1633) 110 In those poore types of God (round circles) so Religions tipes the peeclesse [1650 peecelesse] centers flow.

2002 Business World (Philippines) (Nexis) 7 Jan. 25 Your end-game technique will be superb, particularly in pawnless and pieceless endings.

† piecely adv. Obsolete rare in pieces.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > separation or breaking up into constituent parts > [adverb] > into separate parts

asundera1325

in sunderc1390

piecemeala1450

sundry1531

piecely1552

a-pieces1560

apart1608

1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Piecelye, or in pieces, concise, frustatim.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2006; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	piece
释义	piecen. Brit. /piːs/, U.S. /pis/ Forms: Middle English besys (plural, transmission error), Middle English pecche, Middle English peche, Middle English pees, Middle English pise, Middle English pyce, Middle English pyese, Middle English pyesse, Middle English–1500s pease, Middle English–1500s pese, Middle English–1500s peyse, Middle English–1500s pyece, Middle English–1500s pyse, Middle English–1600s pece, Middle English–1600s peese, Middle English–1600s pes, Middle English–1600s pesse, Middle English–1600s pice, Middle English–1700s peace, Middle English–1700s (1800s– regional) peece, Middle English– piece, 1500s peac, 1500s péece, 1500s pess, 1500s peyce, 1500s peyss, 1500s pyeace, 1500s pys, 1500s pysse, 1500s–1600s peise, 1500s–1800s peice, 1600s peecs (plural), 1600s peics (plural), 1700s peicees (plural), 1900s– pièce (in sense 4b); English regional 1800s– pace (Leicestershire), 1800s– peace (Lincolnshire), 1800s– peus (Berkshire); Scottish pre-1700 pace, pre-1700 peac, pre-1700 peace, pre-1700 peaceise (plural), pre-1700 peaceises (plural), pre-1700 peaceses (plural), pre-1700 peas, pre-1700 peax, pre-1700 pec, pre-1700 pecce, pre-1700 pece, pre-1700 peic, pre-1700 peicies (plural), pre-1700 peis, pre-1700 peise, pre-1700 peiss, pre-1700 peisse, pre-1700 peix, pre-1700 pes, pre-1700 pese, pre-1700 pesse, pre-1700 peyce, pre-1700 peys, pre-1700 piec, pre-1700 pies, pre-1700 pis, pre-1700 piss, pre-1700 pisse, pre-1700 1700s peice, pre-1700 1700s pice, pre-1700 1700s– peece, pre-1700 1700s– piece, 1700s (1800s Shetland) pees. N.E.D. (1906) also records a form late Middle English peyce. Also (in early modern English) represented by the abbreviations pce, pec. (with point). Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French piece. Etymology: < Anglo-Norman peece, pees, peice, Anglo-Norman and Old French pece, Old French pice, Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French piece, French pièce a portion of time or space (late 10th cent.), separate or detached part (c1100), period of time, a while (c1139), part of a way or distance (c1160), piece or length of cloth (12th cent. or earlier), district of land (c1230), portion of food (late 13th cent.), scrap of cloth for patching (c1265), standard quantity, especially of wine (1268 of fruit, 1322 of wine), section of a heraldic shield (1276), coin (late 13th or early 14th cent. in piece d'or, c1298 in piece d'argent), item (14th cent.), part of a whole (1344, also spec. of armour), heavy firearm (c1490; 1456 in the phrase piece d'armes), chesspiece (1559), literary composition (1532), drama (1599), painting (1625 in pièce de peinture), musical composition (1636; 1625 in pièce de musique). The Romance forms point to unattested post-classical Latin forms pettia, pettium: compare post-classical Latin pecia, petia (also pecium, petium) ‘broken piece, fragment’, also ‘piece of land’. Ultimate origin uncertain: see note below. Compare Old Occitan pessa (Occitan pèça) bit (of bread) (c1070 as pecza), period of time, a while (c1150), Catalan peça piece of land (1041 as pecia), piece of cloth (1071), length of cloth (1271), period of time, a while (13th cent.), Spanish pieza, †pieça piece of land (958 in a Latin text), period of time, a while (c1200), coin (c1240), fragment (1240–50), patch, piece of cloth, head of cattle, room (all early 15th cent.), chesspiece (1497 or earlier), Portuguese peça, Italian pezza plot of land (1253 as pecia), prefabricated length of textile material (1263), piece of cloth in general (a1292), patch (14th cent.), portion of space or time (1314), part of a heraldic shield (a1348), pezzo separate or detached part (1268), portion of space or time (a1342), part of a machine (15th cent.), piece of ordnance (1554).Post-classical Latin pecia , in the sense ‘fragment’, occurs in the Salic Law (MSS 5 and 6, c800) lx, (Ibi iiii Fustes alninos super caput suum frangere debet et illos in quattuor pecias [earlier and later recensions partes] per quattuor angulos iactare debet, ‘There he is to break four alderwood cudgels over his head and throw them in four parts into the four corners’); petia , petium , in sense ‘piece of land’ (see sense 3), appear in Muratori Ant. Ital. a.d. 730 ‘et alia petia’, 757 ‘uno petio de terra’ (Diez); see also many later post-classical Latin instances in Du Cange. Further senses of post-classical Latin pecia include piece of ordnance (1360, 1381 in British sources; compare sense 7), piece of plate (frequently 1202–1517 in British sources, also pecia argentea , pecia argenti ; compare sense 7), measure of cloth (frequently 1226–1483 in British sources; compare sense 4a), quantity of wine (13th cent.; compare sense 4b), piece in heraldry (1433; compare sense 13), head of cattle (from 14th cent. in British and continental sources; compare sense 8). Compare also post-classical Latin pecia artelariae piece of artillery (1489; compare quot. 1563 at sense 7), pecia plumbi pig of lead (1267, 1322 in British sources; compare sense 4c), pecia aurea (1475 in a British source), pecia auri (13th cent., 1539 in British sources) gold coin (compare sense 1b). The Romance words are often compared with Old Welsh, Welsh peth thing, affair, matter, (usually derog.) person, Middle Breton pez piece, share (Breton pezh ) and the place-name element Pit- portion of land ( < a Pictish base ( > Scottish Gaelic †pett (12th cent. in the Book of Deer), only in place names)) probably < the same Celtic base as Early Irish cuit portion, share (Irish cuid ), further etymology uncertain. The suggestion is that the underlying Latin word may have been borrowed from an unattested Gaulish cognate of these words. With sense 9a compare Old French piece d'omme (mid 13th cent.; Middle French pièce d'homme ), also Old French piece de saten , insult (c1180). In sense 14h probably partly shortened < masterpiece n. With piece of water (see sense 1a) compare French pièce d'eau natural or artificial decorative pond (1694). With armed of all pieces (see sense 11a) compare Middle French, French armé de toutes pièces (c1500; 1461 as armé de toute pièce ), also arré et aparillé de toutes pièces (14th cent.). With piece of eight (see sense 16b) compare Spanish pieza de á ocho (1605), also peso de á ocho reales (1563), real de á ocho (1576). With to take to pieces (see Phrases 2a) compare Middle French, French †mettre par pièces (c1370), also mettre en pièces , first attested in sense ‘to massacre’ (1534). With to fall to pieces (see Phrases 2d) compare Middle French, French †tomber par pièces (of a person with e.g. leprosy) to fall to pieces slowly (1553), French tomber en pièces to fall to pieces (1640). With piece by piece (see Phrases 5a) compare French pièce à pièce (c1230 in Old French). With in one piece , of one piece (see Phrases 7) compare Middle French, French d'une pièce in one piece (1494–8). With all of a piece (see Phrases 8c) compare French tout d'une pièce in one piece (late 12th cent. in Old French as tote d'une piece). In Middle English and Older Scots sometimes unchanged in the plural. I. In general sense, or with of indicating the substance or material concerned. 1. A portion or quantity of a substance.A piece may be a portion of a larger mass, but the concept is rather of a quantity of the substance forming one body of finite dimensions (large or small), this being regarded as a separate part of the whole existing stock of the substance (or of a non-material thing spoken of as a substance). a. A portion or quantity of a substance or kind of matter, forming a single, usually small, body or mass; a bit. Also figurative. piece of water n. a lake, pond, etc. (a) Without complement or with of. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > part of whole > [noun] > a separate part > a piece or bit stitchc825 piecec1230 nookc1300 crotc1330 gobbetc1330 batc1340 lipe1377 gobbona1387 bladc1527 goblet1530 slice1548 limb1577 speild1653 swatch1697 frustum1721 nib1877 c1230 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 131 A lute clut mei ladlechin swiðe a muchel hal pece [a1250 Nero peche; ?c1225 Cleo. mantel]. 1311–12 in J. T. Fowler Extracts Acct. Rolls Abbey of Durham (1898) I. 9 (MED) vj peces de sturgun. a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) Job xix. 24 Who ȝyueth to me þat my woordis be writen? Who ȝyueth to me þat þei be grauen in a booc with an iren poyntel or with a pece [a1425 L.V. plate; L. lamina] of lede? c1400 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Trin. Cambr. R.3.14) (1960) A. vii. 297 (MED) May no penyale hem paye ne no pece of bacoun. 1481–2 in E. Hobhouse Church-wardens' Accts. (1890) 112 (MED) For mete and drynke at the hawsyng of a pece of tymber into the steple, ix. c1595 Capt. Wyatt in G. F. Warner Voy. R. Dudley to W. Indies (1899) 26 Our Generall caused our Queenes armes to be drawne on a peece of lead. 1698 J. Norris Pract. Disc. Divine Subj. IV. 384 Like a red-hot peice of Iron upon an Anvil. 1748 Defoe's Tour Great Brit. (ed. 4) II. 218 In the Middle of a large Octagon Piece of Water, stands an Obelisk of near 70 Feet. 1789 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 79 272 I pasted a piece of leather apron upon a thin flat piece of wood. 1831 Edinb. Rev. Jan. 366 The scrawl of the Jew on the back of a piece of paper. 1878 T. H. Huxley Physiography (ed. 2) 72 The heat of the sun which quietly steals vapour from every exposed piece of water. 1998 Pittsburgh Post-Gaz. (Nexis) 19 Oct. d1 You fold a piece of green fabric in half and cut a hole for the head. (b) Scottish and Irish English. With complement, without of. ΚΠ 1508 in J. Stuart Extracts Council Reg. Aberdeen (1844) I. xxi iiii pece wax. 1629 in G. F. Black Examples Folk-lore Orkney & Shetland (1901) 107 Ye..sought ane peice colop. 1681 S. Colvil Mock Poem ii. 8 There a piece Beef, there a piece Cheese lyes. 1876 S. R. Whitehead Daft Davie (1894) 205 (E.D.D.) She had a piece bread and cheese in her pouch. 1932 A. H. Charteris When Scot Smiles 248 There's no her bate in Glesca at a drope soup, or a piece fish! 1953 M. Traynor Eng. Dial. Donegal 211/2 A piece bread and butter. b. A portion of gold, silver, etc., made into a coin. Also piece of money. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > money > medium of exchange or currency > coins collective > [noun] > a coin minteOE minteOE crossc1330 coinc1386 cross and (or) pilea1393 penny1394 croucha1420 penny1427 piece1472 metal1485 piecec1540 stamp1594 quinyie1596 cross and pilea1625 numm1694 ducat1794 bean1811 dog1811 chinker1834 rock1837 pocket-burner1848 spondulicks1857 scale1872 chip1879 ridge1935 1472 in W. Fraser Douglas Bk. (1885) III. 57 [Forcibly taken] out of his kyst..twelfe pecys of syluyr, [etc.]. 1526 Bible (Tyndale) Matt. xxvi. 15 And they apoynted vnto hym [sc. Judas] thyrty peces of syluer [ Wyclif 1382 thritti platis of seluer, 1388 thretti pans of siluer]. 1540 Act 32 Hen. VIII c. 14 A piece of flemmishe money called an Englyshe. 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. lvij^v His Purse..chatcheth vp the other thinkyng to haue a pece of money. 1611 Bible (King James) 2 Kings v. 5 Hee departed, and tooke with him ten talents of siluer, and sixe thousand pieces of gold. View more context for this quotation 1675 T. Brooks Golden Key 302 Look, as the worth and value of many pieces of Silver, is to be found in one piece of Gold. 1726 J. Swift Gulliver I. i. ii. 46 My Purse with nine large Pieces of Gold. 1796 S. Pegge Anonymiana (1809) 460 Thirteen-pence halfpenny is Hangman's wages, because there was a piece of money of this sort..brought to us by James the First. 1841 E. W. Lane tr. Thousand & One Nights III. 6 I..amassed three thousand pieces of silver. 1874 Times 29 Apr. 7/6 He saw Mr. Cave shake hands with Kingdon, and then..distinctly saw two pieces of gold in his hand. 1912 J. Conrad Secret Sharer ii, in 'Twixt Land & Sea 153 I produced a large old silk handkerchief of mine, and tying the three pieces of gold in a corner, pressed it on him. 1995 E. Toman Dancing in Limbo ii. 58 The money for the bunting, what was left of it, lay like thirty pieces of silver on the counter. c. An item of artistic composition. ΚΠ 1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes ii. f. 127^v And also this piece of Homere his verse. 1584 G. Peele Araygnem. Paris iii. v. p. i My boy, I will instruct thee in a peece of poetrie, That happly erst thou hast not heard. a1616 W. Shakespeare Twelfth Night (1623) ii. iv. 2 Giue me some Musick..that peece of song, That old and Anticke song we heard last night. View more context for this quotation 1683 Inventory Donibristle 9–10 May Ane peece of landskipe in a light wooden frame. 1761 T. Warton Life Bathurst 218 [Dr. Bathurst's] programma, on preaching..is an agreeable and lively piece of writing. 1824 T. F. Dibdin Libr. Compan. 589 The author of several very rare and not incurious pieces of poetry. 1852 H. B. Stowe Uncle Tom's Cabin I. xvi. 255 He sat down to the piano, and rattled a lively piece of music. 1914 J. Joyce Dubliners 165 Mr Crofton said that it was a very fine piece of writing. 1995 DJ 6 July 61/4 A collaboration of weird electronic noises that meld together into a single flowing piece of music. d. colloquial (originally U.S.). With of. A share or financial stake in a business, project, etc. Frequently as a piece of the action at action n. Phrases 5a. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > financial dealings > [noun] > financial interest or share subscription1671 concern1748 piece1900 a piece (also share) of the action1938 1900 C. L. Cullen Taking Chances 150 Now, w'y couldn't I ha' got a piece o' dat! 1929 Theatre Mag. June 33/3 Piece, share. As ‘A piece of the show’, a financial share in the production. 1940 J. O'Hara Pal Joey 66 He owns a piece of the room [sc. nightclub] where I sing in. 1961 H. Ellison Rockabilly (1963) 138 You've got a piece of the action. 1973 C. Alverson Fighting Back (1978) i. 2 This is a very pretty little bar you've got here... I want a piece of it. I think you could use a partner. 1989 W. Boroson Keys to Investing in Mutual Funds 7 Because they can put more money into a fund by joining together, each member of the group can buy a piece of a wide mix of investments. 1995 DJ 6 July 16/2 He wants to make sure he doesn't forget where he's from by giving his homeboys a piece of the action. e. colloquial (originally U.S.). With of. A fight or contest with a person; frequently as a threat in (do you) want a piece of me?, etc. ΚΠ 1953 Times-Bulletin (Van West, Ohio) 8 Sept. 8/ He may beat me, but I'll get a piece of him. 1977 Reporter (Fond du Lac, Wisconsin) 22 June 14/2 ‘I want him on the debate platform,’ Dreyfus said Tuesday. ‘I want a piece of him.’ 2004 J. Stetson Blood on Leaves viii. 46 You want a piece of me? I ain't hidin' and I sure as hell ain't runnin'! 2. a. A separate or detached part, segment, or fragment (of a concrete object); any of the distinct portions of which something is composed. Also in extended use. ΘΚΠ the world > time > [noun] > stretch, period, or portion of time tidea900 while971 fristOE stemOE throwOE timeOE selea1250 piecec1300 termc1300 stagea1325 whilesc1330 space?a1400 racec1400 spacec1405 termine1420 parodya1425 timea1425 continuancec1440 thrallc1450 espace1483 space of timec1500 tracta1513 stead1596 reach1654 amidst1664 stretch1698 spell1728 track1835 lifetime1875 time slice1938 the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > part of whole > [noun] > a part viewed as separate piecec1300 cantlec1315 parcela1382 c1300 St. Margarete (Harl.) 122 in O. Cockayne Seinte Marherete (1866) 27 (MED) Bi peces þe flesch orn adoun. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 260^v Bestes of pray haueþ teeþ..scharpe þat þey mowen..come to þe pray and byte þerof gobettes & peces [L. frustrum]. c1450 in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 601/11 Pecia, a pece, or lytyl part of a thyng. a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll.) 280 Sir Launcelot..kutte a pese away of that cloth. a1500 tr. Lanfranc Sci. Cirurgie (Wellcome) f. 22^v (MED) The behovith to do away the boon with instrumentis, and littill pecys þu shalt þus do Away. 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. xxv That day..is roosted a whole Oxe..A piece whereof is serued to the Emperours table. 1653 I. Walton Compl. Angler iv. 108 I think the best [rods] are of two pieces . View more context for this quotation 1694 tr. F. Martens Voy. Spitzbergen 160 in Narbrough's Acct. Several Late Voy. One of them cuts the soft and tough Fat into small pieces with a long Knife. 1713 M. Henry Catech. Youth in Wks. (1853) II. 169/1 Gave them a piece of a honeycomb to eat. 1781 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 71 175 (note) 35 They [sc. ants] cut out of the leaves of certain trees and plants pieces almost circular. 1823 C. Lamb Imperfect Sympathies in Elia 135 They are content with fragments and scattered pieces of Truth. 1891 Manufacturer & Builder Oct. 226/3 After the sap has been gathered it is evaporated..and is then cut up into pieces about an inch thick. 1926 People's Home Jrnl. Feb. 40/2 In the diagram below are shown the different pieces of the dress as it comes to you. 1987 National Geographic Sept. 314/1 I took the unit to Guatemala, where its success in analyzing the mosaic pieces of the Tikal mask..points to a revolution in artifact authentication. b. As the second element in compounds denoting items of clothing, parts of structures, or components of apparatus, as back-piece, cross-piece, earpiece, eyepiece, headpiece, heel-piece, etc., and with prefixed numeral, forming attributive phrases, as one-piece, three-piece: see the first element. 3. An area of land which is enclosed, marked off by boundaries, or otherwise viewed as distinct, esp. in terms of ownership. ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > land > tract > [noun] placec1325 piecec1330 soil1430 groundc1436 territory?a1439 land1604 strain1614 track1686 reaching1727 terrain1766 land-score1828 outstretch1858 c1330 (?a1300) Kyng Alisaunder (Auch.) (1952) 324 (MED) Þou schalt haue..þat riche pece Þat liþ to þe lond of Grece. 1420 in C. Innes Liber S. Marie de Calchou (1846) 447 A pese of lande..lyand betwen ij bowrnis. 1463 in S. Tymms Wills & Inventories Bury St. Edmunds (1850) 31 (MED) There is vij acres lond lying by the hih weye..wich..lith in ij pecys. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Josh. xxiv. F The bones of Ioseph..buried they at Sichem, in the pece of the londe, y^t Iacob boughte of the children of Hemor. 1574 J. Baret Aluearie L 292 To let forth, or make a leasse of a piece of land. 1611 Bible (King James) Luke xiv. 18 I haue bought a piece of ground. View more context for this quotation 1677 Derby (Connecticut) Town Rec. (1901) 55 That little pece of land betwen the Rock and the gully or Creke. 1707 Boston News-let. 7 July 2/2 A convenient double Brick House and Garden.., with a piece of Land near to that which was Sir William Phipps. 1772 MS Award, Winterton, Lincs. All that other peice or parcel of Ground. 1808 P. Hawker Diary (1893) I. 13 I went into a piece of potatoes..without a dog. 1897 J. W. Clark Observ. Priory Barnwell Introd. 10 A list of the different pieces of property, with their yearly values. 1944 H. F. Infield Co-operative Living in Palestine (1946) iii. 46 Here the settler lives in his own house, owns a piece of land and some cattle. 1990 Yankee Mar. 136/1 Meanwhile, Dr. James Marvin had been scouring Vermont for a piece of forest to call his family's own. 4. A (more or less) definite quantity in which any of various manufactured goods are made or put up for sale or use. a. A standard length, varying according to the material, in which cloth or other textile fabric is woven. Cf. bolt n.¹ 8.The standard ‘piece’ of cloth typically measured 24 yards (approx. 21.9 metres) in length and 7 quarters (approx. 1.60 metres: see quarter n. 5a) in breadth, but there were formerly many exceptions according to the quality of the fabric, its value, place of manufacture, etc.: e.g. a piece of muslin was 14 ells (16.0 metres) in length; Hampshire calico, 28 yards by 1 quarter (25.6 by 1.60 metres); bagging for hops (in Worcestershire), 36 yards by 31 inches (32.9 by 0.79 metres), and so on. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement of length > [noun] > units of length or distance > units in measuring cloth piece1389 nail1394 stick1466 goad1467 1389 in J. Raine Testamenta Eboracensia (1836) I. 130 (MED) Item, Johannæ de Carlton..half a pes of lawmpas. a1500 Tracts Eng. Weights & Meas. 18 in Camden Misc. (1929) XV (MED) 1 pece Tartyrn ys x yerdes; 1 pece lawne or ump[er]ill, xvj plyte or xviij yerds. 1523 Act 14 & 15 Hen. VIII c. 3 §7 Every peace of Worstede Sayes or Stamyns to be made withyn any of the said Townes. 1588 Acct.-bk. W. Wray in Antiquary (1896) 32 54 Item j pece tawnye buffing xxs. Item ij pece blacke buffing, xxiiijs. 1622 E. Misselden Free Trade (ed. 2) 9 Ther they goe at Twelve Gilders eight stivers the piece. 1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) Piece,..a certain Number of Ells or Yards of Cloth, Stuff, Silk, etc. 1709 Ld. Shaftesbury Moralists i. ii. 20 Some of those rich Stuffs..with such irregular Work, and contrary Colours, as look'd ill in the Pattern, but mighty natural and well in the Piece. 1811 J. Taylor Remarks Present State Devon in T. Risdon Chorogr. Surv. Devon (new ed.) p. xxvi The..trade took off..about 35,000 pieces, each piece containing 26 yards. 1844 G. Dodd Textile Manuf. Great Brit. ii. 48 A ‘piece’ of cotton cloth varies from twenty-four to forty-seven yards in length, and from twenty-eight to forty inches in width. 1992 N.Y. Mag. 3 Feb. 40/2 Sometimes an expensive fabric is made up for a customer who wants only, say, 40 yards, so the rest of the bolt (most bolts—referred to as pieces—hold 50 or 70 yards) must be disposed of. b. A quantity of wine, brandy, or (historical) ale, varying according to the locality but generally equivalent to a butt, or to two hogsheads; a cask containing this amount.The term is generally treated as French in later use. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > measurement > the scientific measurement of volume > measure(s) of capacity > [noun] > liquid measure of capacity > specific units of liquid measure > barrel or cask as unit pipe1352 tunc1400 piece1423 hogshead1427 ton mascull1432 tierce1531 leaguer1683 tonneau1794 1423 in A. F. Leach Beverley Town Documents (1900) p. liv 2 panyers, 1 hopir, 1 modius, 1 firthindal, 1 piece and ½ a piece of wood. a1505 L. Haryson in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 490 I sen my lady a lytyll pes of Renysch wyne of þe best off x gallons. 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. ccii. 238 They wanne the good town of Athyen..and there they founde mo than a hundred peces of wyne. 1608 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. (new ed.) ii. iv. 96 As Claret wine from a pearç't Peece doth spout. 1687 London Gaz. No. 2223/4 76 Pieces of Conyack Brandy in 32 Lotts. 1705 London Gaz. No. 4089/3 One hundred and eighty Pipes or Pieces, of double Spanish Brandy. 1745 J. Taylor Remarks on German Empire 258 A Tax of three Escalins..for every piece of Wine in the Merchant's Cellar. 1840 T. A. Trollope Summer in Brittany II. 281 A ‘piece’..of the best brandy, consisting of four hundred bottles, may be purchased at Bordeaux for two hundred and fifty francs. 1895 Westm. Gaz. 8 Apr. 3/2 Forty to fifty basketfuls [of grapes] are put upon the press at one time, and yield from ten to twelve pieces of wine. 1913 L. F. Salzman Eng. Industries Middle Ages x. 188 The list of standard [ale-]measures kept at Beverley in 1423 shows a potell, quart, pint, and gill of pewter, panyers, hopir, modius, firthindal, piece, and halfpiece of wood. 1956 Atlantic June 94/2 In Burgundy the barrel is called pièce and contains from 226 to 228 liters. 1986 Times 22 Nov. 34/4 In both these years 688 and 636 pièces respectively (the traditional Burgundian volume) were sold at auction. †c. A pig or a half-pig of lead. Cf. pig n.¹ 11a. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > base metal > [noun] > lead > lead in specific form > pig or half-pig sow1481 pig1589 piece1747 stave1864 1747 W. Hooson Miners Dict. sig. Iiv Amongst Lead Merchants it [sc. a Fodder] is nine Pieces or Piggs of Lead. 1773 Gentleman's Mag. 43 63 Blocks of lead..called pigs..being found too heavy to be easily managed, as they weighed three hundred weight..are now commonly made in Derbyshire into two pieces. 1829 S. Glover Hist. County of Derby I. 81 The pieces, or half-pigs of lead are not of any certain weight, though the smelter endeavours..to approach as near to 176¼ lbs. as he can. d. The standard length in which wallpaper is produced (in Britain, generally 12 yards, approx. 11 metres). ΚΠ 1850 D. McCurdy New Amer. Order Arithm. 116 375 pieces of wall paper at 75 cts? 1881 F. Young Every Man his own Mechanic §1639 A ‘piece’ of English paper is 12 yards long and a piece of French paper about 9½ yards. 1915 Times 10 May 6/1 (advt.) The ‘Dorothy Perkins’ Rose decoration. 3/- per piece of 12 yards. 1959 Home Encycl. 271 The regulation ‘piece’ or roll of wallpaper is 21 inches wide and 36 feet in length. In wallpapering, one piece in ten is allowed for waste in matching patterns, etc. 1989 Independent (Nexis) 13 May The most important innovation was the roll or piece of wallpaper. A piece 12 yards long and about 22in wide was achieved by sticking large sheets of hand-made rag paper together. 5. An instance, example, or specimen of a form of action or activity, function, or quality. a. Applied to an abstract thing, concept, quality, etc. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > an individual case or instance > [noun] > exemplifying some rule, activity, quality, etc. asaumplea1250 evidencec1391 piecea1393 examplea1398 samplera1400 exemplarc1475 paradigm1483 instant1560 precedenta1575 exemplification1582 exemplary1583 instance1592 instancy1613 copy1641 specimen1659 patron saint1803 for instance1959 a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. 1338 (MED) Dorus, whilom king of Grece..hadde of infortune a piece. 1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. vi. f. lxxvi^v For if ye loue no moe nor other but them that loue you, what piece of rewarde will ye require at Goddes hande? a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) i. xiii. sig. I4 Making a peece of reuerence vnto him. 1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. T. Boccalini Ragguagli di Parnasso i. lxv. 129 It being a hatefull piece of petulancy to envy great Princes. 1691 J. Ray Wisdom of God 91 Eminent pieces of Self-denial. 1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson iii. x. 407 It would have been a piece of imprudence. 1775 Ld. Percy Let. 9 June (1902) 54 The retreat by Lord Percy was deemed a piece of masterly officership in bringing off his men with so little loss. 1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth vii, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. III. 175 A piece of blundering valiancy. 1876 G. O. Trevelyan Life & Lett. Macaulay I. iii. 139 A rare piece of luck. 1937 ‘G. Orwell’ Road to Wigan Pier xii. 232 Deliberately to revert to primitive methods..would be a piece of dilettantism. 1992 S. King Gerald's Game (1993) iii. 55 Another piece of New Age vapidity passing for wisdom pointed out. b. Applied to a concrete thing, action, activity, etc. ΚΠ 1532 T. More Confut. Tyndale in Wks. (1557) 425 Ye may first here see a piece of his playne Poetrie double proued. a1568 R. Ascham Scholemaster (1570) ii. f. 39^v The conference of these two places, conteinyng so excellent a peece of learning, as this is. 1629 W. Davenant Trag. Albovine iii. i sig. F3^v It is a piece of courtship to salute at parting. 1686 tr. J. Chardin Trav. Persia 398 A..delicate Piece of Architecture. ?c1710 J. Taylor Journey Edenborough (1903) 71 A noble Monument of its former Grandeur, being one of the finest pieces of ruin in the Kingdom. 1774 W. Hutchinson Excursion to Lakes 36 There being enclosed in a case in the wainscot a fine piece of portrait painting. 1828 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 23 373 His [sc. Leigh Hunt's] account of the meeting is a precious piece of cockneyism. 1870 E. Peacock Ralf Skirlaugh I. 86 This elaborate piece of chiselmanship. 1905 E. M. Forster Where Angels fear to Tread vii. 236 She still took it as a piece of nursery prattle, and smiled mechanically. 2004 Charleston (W. Va.) Daily Mail 1 Apr. p6 d Cooper..pronounced it [sc. a podium] a fine piece of woodworking. †c. Applied to a person in whom some quality is exemplified or realized. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > an individual case or instance > [noun] > typical or representative case > that which typically exhibits a quality > person figurer1548 illustrator1598 piece1615 exemplifiera1677 impersonation1797 specimen1817 exemplificator1828 incarnation1833 1615 T. Tomkis Albumazar v. ix. sig. I2^v O Pretious peece of villany! are you vnchang'd? a1625 J. Fletcher Rule a Wife (1640) iii. 37 The master of this litle peece of mischiefe. 1648 J. Goodwin in W. Jenkyn Ὁδηγος Τυϕλος i. 6 Green-head, young peece of presumption, Prelaticall peece of Presbytery,..swelling peece of vanity. 1712 J. Arbuthnot John Bull Still in Senses i. 7 One of your affected Cursying pieces of Formality. 1778 F. Burney Evelina III. xiv. 141 As to the little Louisa, 'tis such a pretty piece of languor. 1813 J. Austen Let. 3 July in Lett. to Sister Cassandra & Others (1952) 317 He was a piece of Perfection, noisy Perfection himself which I always recollect with regard. 1875 R. Browning Inn Album in Poet. Wks. (1888–94) XII. 287 You dared love a piece of virtue. 6. a. A part or portion of the whole, marked off or considered as distinct but, not separate.Now less commonly used than part, portion, section, etc. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > part of whole > [noun] deala800 doleOE endOE lotlOE partyc1300 parta1325 specec1330 portiona1387 piecec1400 proportion1443 parcellingc1449 faction1577 piecemeal1603 proportional1856 c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xiv. 48 Þanne was it a pece [c1400 C text pice] of þe pater-noster ‘fiat voluntas tua’. 1534 T. More Treat. Passion in Wks. 1303/1 That he might steale a peece of the pryce. 1562 in F. J. Furnivall Child-marriages, Divorces, & Ratifications Diocese Chester (1897) 116 Roberte Rile the younger neuer promysid her any pease of the lease of the house where her husband nowe dwellis, nor nothinge els. 1642 D. Rogers Naaman 182 Now in a word, for the other peece of the question. 1699 H. Wanley in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eminent Lit. Men (1843) 292 For other Saxon books, I have copied large pieces of them. 1794 D. Steel Elements & Pract. Rigging & Seamanship I. 10 Side-trees, the lower main pieces of a made-mast. 1840 C. Dickens Old Curiosity Shop I. xi. 150 You can see a piece of the church clock through the chimneys, and almost tell the time. 1889 F. Galton Nat. Inheritance ii. 8 Each piece of the new structure is derived from a corresponding piece of some older one. 1915 V. Woolf Voy. Out xiv. 215 He stooped and picked up a piece of the rug at their feet. 1994 Midwest Home & Design Winter 24/3 There's a recognition that being ecologically sensitive pervades every piece of a person's life. b. A length or section of (or †on) a road, or similar linear thing. ΘΚΠ the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > longitudinal extent > [noun] > that which has length > portion of something having length piecea1450 a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Merlin (1904) I. l. 1433 That preest..browht ȝow a gret pece on the weye. 1561 T. Hoby tr. B. Castiglione Courtyer i. sig. K.ii^v Accompaninge the Pope a peece of the way. 1600 tr. T. Garzoni Hosp. Incurable Fooles 129 He woulde accompanie them a good peece of the way. 1660 G. Mackenzie Aretina iv. 367 Ordering..all the Ordnance to send their shot a piece of the way with him. 1732 J. Horsley Britannia Romana iii. ii. 415 He has lately viewed this piece of Roman road by Altrineham, and assures me that it is pointing directly towards Chester and Manchester. 1773 O. Goldsmith She stoops to Conquer i. 16 I'll just step myself, and shew you a piece of the way. 1846 C. Dickens Pictures from Italy 214 We tracked a piece of the old road. 1858 J. G. Burnett Blanche of Brandywine iv. i. 38 Oh! You're a goin' a piece of the road with me? 1932 W. Faulkner Light in August i. 5 Here's a wagon that's going a piece of the way. 2003 Evening Times (Glasgow) (Nexis) 10 Nov. 8 One of the most heavily used pieces of road in Scotland. †c. With of. A person who fulfils a role, occupation, etc., partially or to some extent. Cf. bit n.² and adj.² Phrases 2a(a)(i). Obsolete. ΚΠ 1552 T. Cooper Bibliotheca Eliotæ (rev. ed.) Frustum hominis, a litle pretie felow, that semeth to be but a peece of a man. Plaut. Petit bout d'homme: moitié de homme.] a1586 Sir P. Sidney Apol. Poetrie (1595) sig. B1^v If I had not beene a peece of a Logician before I came to him. 1633 J. Clarke tr. Two-fold Praxis 12 in Dux Grammaticus Hoo! would you faine be thought a piece of an Astronomer now? 1641 Naunton's Fragmenta Regalia sig. F3 Being a good peece of a Scholler. 1661 H. Wotton Lett. to Edmund Bacon 101 I was assailed by that Splenetick Passion, which a Country good fellow that had been a piece of a Grammarian meant, when he said he was sick of the Flatus. 1743 in T. B. Howell State Trials (1813) XVII. 1172 He is a piece of a surgeon. 1782 T. Warton Let. 29 Sept. (1995) iii. 459 I who, being an old author, am a piece of a printer will conduct every thing in a frugal yet decent way. 1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian I. ix. 170 The time was when I might have been a piece of a minister. 1852 ‘E. Wetherell’ Queechy I. 275 I am a piece of a physician and a little in the agricultural line also. d. U.S. regional. A poor or unsatisfactory specimen of something. ΘΚΠ the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > inferior thing > [noun] poornessa1382 chaffc1386 cold roast?1406 arse-guta1413 short end1560 under-kind1571 inferior1589 canvas-back1605 underthing1620 under-sort1655 wasteling1750 slouch1767 shamea1771 neck beefa1777 rep1786 wastrel1790 wastera1800 shoddy1862 piece1884 tinhorn1887 robbo1897 cheapie1898 buckeye1906 reach-me-down1916 dog1917 stinkeroo1934 bodgie1964 cheapo1975 1884 Harper's New Monthly Mag. 69 303 The spirit which animated her father when he went to housekeeping in a piece of a house without any front window. 1967 V. Williams Greenbones 227 ‘Let's stop for the night. Yonder's a piece of cabin.’.. He followed Nin into a moldy, smelly shack, tumbled down until only owls would have it. 1996 in Dict. Amer. Regional Eng. (2002) IV. 123/2 My man had a piece of a mine—he war a piece of a miner, leastways till hit fell on him. 7. A single item belonging to a group or class of similar objects. Frequently in piece of furniture, piece of ordnance, piece of plate, etc. Cf. a piece n. at Phrases 3. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > part of whole > [noun] > constituent part or component > single element of collective whole piece1473 unit1600 module1946 1473 J. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 472 Myn jnstrumentys..I praye yow..to trusse in a pedde and sende them me..and a byll ther-in how many pecys. 1523 Earl of Surrey in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1824) 1st Ser. I. 216 Dyvers other good peces of ordynaunce for the feld. c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 9504 Syluer and Sarrigold sadly þai grippet..Pesis of plates plentius mekyll. 1563 in J. H. Burton Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1877) 1st Ser. I. 237 Ane brasin pece of artailyerie, ten irn pecis. 1603 M. Pring Voy. N. Virginia in S. Purchas Purchas his Pilgrimes (1906) XVIII. 328 Our Master..caused a piece of great Ordnance to bee shot off, to give terrour to the Indians. 1636 R. Fewster Will in B. Cusack Everyday Eng. 1500–1700 (1998) 341 Item I giue &^c to my wiffe & my two daughters 4 peeces off pewter to each. 1669 S. Sturmy Mariners Mag. v. 75 Of the..Motion or Course of a Shot discharged out of any Piece of Ordnance. 1715 London Gaz. No. 5336/2 A Piece of Plate of the value of 100 Ducats. 1792 Gentleman's Mag. 12/2 A statue or a piece of plate require inscriptions very different from a monument. 1832 R. Southey Hist. Peninsular War III. 319 A regiment..succeeded in taking two pieces of cannon. 1886 M. Linskill Haven under Hill I. xv. 201 It was a handsome piece of furniture. 1940 W. E. Crook Electr. in Aircraft vii. 93 The impulse starter..is a purely mechanical piece of apparatus. 1991 J. Phillips You'll never eat Lunch in this Town Again (1992) 115 He has always been very proud of this piece of equipment. †8. Scottish. A head of cattle, stock, game, etc. Cf. a piece at sense 10b. Obsolete. ΚΠ 1480 in Acts Lords of Council Civil Causes (1839) I. 46/1 xxx d. for þe pece of þe gymmyr..& xij d. for þe pece of þe lammys. 1556 in R. Pitcairn Criminal Trials Scotl. (1833) I. i. 390 The pryce of..the peis of pultrie. 1575 Edinb. Test. III. f. 297, in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue at Pece Albeit ilk pece of the samin ky wes than worth ten markis. 1622 in W. Fraser Chiefs of Grant (1883) III. 427 Nyne peace of hors. 1701 in J. Cameron Argyll Justiciary Rec. (1949) I. 194 Ane large black mear..with other three pieces of horses. II. Uses without of and specification of the substance, etc. (elliptical, contextual, or conventional). 9. a. A person, an individual (generally understood to be male from the context). In later use frequently derogatory. Now rare.In early use often applied to one of a multitude, as a member of an army, etc. ΘΚΠ the world > people > person > man > [noun] churla800 werec900 rinkeOE wapmanc950 heOE wyeOE gomeOE ledeOE seggeOE shalkOE manOE carmanlOE mother bairnc1225 hemea1250 mother sona1250 hind1297 buck1303 mister mana1325 piecec1325 groomc1330 man of mouldc1330 hathela1350 sire1362 malea1382 fellowa1393 guestc1394 sergeant?a1400 tailarda1400 tulka1400 harlotc1405 mother's sona1470 frekea1475 her1488 masculinea1500 gentlemana1513 horse?a1513 mutton?a1513 merchant1549 child1551 dick1553 sorrya1555 knavea1556 dandiprat1556 cove1567 rat1571 manling1573 bird1575 stone-horse1580 loona1586 shaver1592 slave1592 copemate1593 tit1594 dog1597 hima1599 prick1598 dingle-dangle1605 jade1608 dildoa1616 Roger1631 Johnny1648 boy1651 cod1653 cully1676 son of a bitch1697 cull1698 feller1699 chap1704 buff1708 son of a gun1708 buffer1749 codger1750 Mr1753 he-man1758 fella1778 gilla1790 gloak1795 joker1811 gory1819 covey1821 chappie1822 Charley1825 hombre1832 brother-man1839 rooster1840 blokie1841 hoss1843 Joe1846 guy1847 plug1848 chal1851 rye1851 omee1859 bloke1861 guffin1862 gadgie1865 mug1865 kerel1873 stiff1882 snoozer1884 geezer1885 josser1886 dude1895 gazabo1896 jasper1896 prairie dog1897 sport1897 crow-eater1899 papa1903 gink1906 stud1909 scout1912 head1913 beezer1914 jeff1917 pisser1918 bimbo1919 bozo1920 gee1921 mush1936 rye mush1936 basher1942 okie1943 mugger1945 cat1946 ou1949 tess1952 oke1970 bra1974 muzhik1993 c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 4193 (MED) He wole sone come; þulke vorbroyde pece. c1425 (c1400) Laud Troy-bk. 4446 (MED) That fel faire for men of Grece, Thei hadde elles dyed euery pece. 1472 in Bull. Inst. Hist. Res. (1925) 3 48 (MED) I resceiued xvj d. of diuers tenauntes that is to say j d. of a pece. 1508 W. Kennedy Flyting (Chepman & Myllar) in Poems W. Dunbar (1998) I. 214 In Parise wyth the maister buriawe Abyde..And help to hang the pece for half a frank. 1576 G. Whetstone Ortchard of Repentance 5 in Rocke of Regard A crooked peece, with withered age forworne. 1651 H. Isaackson in T. Fuller Abel Redevivus sig. 2^v King James..selecting him, as his choysest peece, to vindicate his Regality. 1673 F. Kirkman Unlucky Citizen* 171 She having so untoward a piece to her Husband, was undone by him. 1736 S. Chandler Hist. Persecution 346 Bancroft..was, as the historian calls him, a sturdy Piece. 1746 in Leisure Hour (1880) 117 An old nasty grunting bishop..who plagues me out of my life, he is such a formal piece. 1874 T. Hardy Far from Madding Crowd I. xxii. 252 A strange old piece, ye say!.. At the same time ye be no old man worth naming. 1900 E. Phillpotts Sons of Morning 90 He'm an ancient piece wi'out gert store o' words best o' times. 1918 L. Strachey Eminent Victorians 63 I hate that man, he is such a forward piece. b. A woman or girl; in later use usually derogatory, with connotation of a woman regarded as a sexual object. Hence in extended use: sexual intercourse. ΘΚΠ the world > people > person > woman > [noun] wifeeOE womaneOE womanOE queanOE brideOE viragoc1000 to wifeOE burdc1225 ladyc1225 carlinec1375 stotc1386 marec1387 pigsneyc1390 fellowa1393 piecec1400 femalea1425 goddessa1450 fairc1450 womankindc1450 fellowessa1500 femininea1513 tega1529 sister?1532 minikinc1540 wyec1540 placket1547 pig's eye1553 hen?1555 ware1558 pussy?a1560 jade1560 feme1566 gentlewoman1567 mort1567 pinnacea1568 jug1569 rowen1575 tarleather1575 mumps1576 skirt1578 piga1586 rib?1590 puppy1592 smock1592 maness1594 sloy1596 Madonna1602 moll1604 periwinkle1604 Partlet1607 rib of man1609 womanship?1609 modicum1611 Gypsy1612 petticoata1616 runniona1616 birda1627 lucky1629 she-man1640 her1646 lost rib1647 uptails1671 cow1696 tittup1696 cummer17.. wife1702 she-woman1703 person1704 molly1706 fusby1707 goody1708 riding hood1718 birdie1720 faggot1722 piece of goods1727 woman body1771 she-male1776 biddy1785 bitch1785 covess1789 gin1790 pintail1792 buer1807 femme1814 bibi1816 Judy1819 a bit (also bundle) of muslin1823 wifie1823 craft1829 shickster?1834 heifer1835 mot1837 tit1837 Sitt1838 strap1842 hay-bag1851 bint1855 popsy1855 tart1864 woman's woman1868 to deliver the goods1870 chapess1871 Dona1874 girl1878 ladykind1878 mivvy1881 dudess1883 dudette1883 dudine1883 tid1888 totty1890 tootsy1895 floozy1899 dame1902 jane1906 Tom1906 frail1908 bit of stuff1909 quim1909 babe1911 broad1914 muff1914 manhole1916 number1919 rossie1922 bit1923 man's woman1928 scupper1935 split1935 rye mort1936 totsy1938 leg1939 skinny1941 Richard1950 potato1957 scow1960 wimmin1975 womyn1975 womxn1991 c1400 (?c1380) Pearl 192 A precos [read precios] pyece in perlez pyȝt. 1562 J. Heywood Of Mine Acquayntance Certaine Yong Man i. iv, in Wks. sig. Aiiij^v This mayde, the peece perelesse in mine eie. 1567 G. Turberville tr. A. Sani di Cure Aunsweres in tr. Ovid Heroycall Epist. 157^v Faire Helena that passing peece. 1621 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy i. ii. iv. i. 191 A waspish cholerick slut, a crased peece. 1668 C. Sedley Mulberry-garden iii. ii. 40 She is a tender Piece. a1770 A. Hervey Jrnl. (1953) (modernized text) 122 I saw a very fine country-girl..and a most lovely piece she was. 1790 A. Shirrefs Poems 117 There's few wad think her sic a saucy piece! 1846 ‘Lord Chief Baron’ Swell's Night Guide (new ed.) 104 She is likewise quite a new piece, not having exposed her goods to market above three months. 1873 J. Miller Life amongst Modocs xv. 194 Rather a good-looking piece you got here now, ain't she? 1908 Z. Gale Friendship Village 251 [When] Zorah had took sick..this little piece here had up an' offered [to dance in the carnival]. 1953 T. Morrison Stones of House v. iii. 243 You couldn't put up a memorial to a boy whose younger brother had just given the family and the college a bad name, not even sneaking off to a house somewhere if he wanted a piece. 1966 K. Amis Anti-death League 329 Those two pieces in leather who served you your coffee. 1974 H. L. Foster Ribbin', Jivin', & Playin' Dozens v. 208 He said he fucked your baby sister and poked your baby niece And when he sees your little brother he's going to ask him for a piece. 2002 Sunday Express (Nexis) 13 Jan. 34 The silly blonde piece who was filmed drunk, sleeping around and working as a stripper on a Greek island. 10. A portion of time or space. a. A period or space of time, esp. a short one; a while. Also: a part of a day, hour, etc. Now regional (chiefly U.S., Scottish and English regional (northern)). ΘΚΠ the world > time > duration > shortness or brevity in time > [noun] > a short or moderate space of time weekeOE littleOE roomOE stoundOE startc1300 houra1350 furlong wayc1384 piecea1400 weea1400 speed whilec1400 hanlawhilea1500 snack1513 spirt?1550 snatch1563 fit1583 spurta1591 shortness1598 span1599 bit1653 thinking time1668 thinking-while1668 onwardling1674 way-bit1674 whilie1819 fillip1880 a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 7063 Þe wer lasted sa long a pece. a1425 (?a1350) Seege Troye (Linc. Inn) (1927) 813 (MED) Reste we now a litel pece, And speke we of þeo kyng of grece. a1475 in F. J. Furnivall Polit., Relig., & Love Poems (1903) 272 About þis, a pece I wyl spede, Þat I myth þis lettrys rede. 1580 G. Harvey in E. Spenser & G. Harvey Three Proper & Wittie Lett. 36 Some doe I know, that a peece of a tweluemonths [in Italy] Hath so perfited..That none for sense..halfe matchable with them. 1640 J. Fletcher & R. Massinger Sir John van Olden Barnavelt (1979) iii. iv. 49 One blow, one short peece of an howre dos this And this cures all. 1720 D. Defoe Life Capt. Singleton 83 We came thither in a Piece of a Day. 1755 G. Washington Let. 7 June in Writings (1931) I. 133 After waiting a Day and a piece in Winchester. c1825 in Notes & Queries 9th Ser. 3 330 A piece back, three tides came up the Trent on one day. 1897 R. Kipling Captains Courageous viii. 165 We'll fish a piece till the thing lifts. 1928 A. E. Pease Dict. Dial. N. Riding Yorks. 95/2 Ah wez wiv her a canny piece afore she said owt. 1965 News Jrnl. (Mansfield, Ohio) 22 Aug. d 8/1 Warren Berlinger has the title role of hero Kilroy, a Marine who turns up in Wilton Junction..and decides to stay a piece. b. a piece, slightly, a bit, to some degree. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > part of whole > [noun] > a separate part > a piece or bit > small piece fingereOE snedec1000 seed?a1200 morselc1300 bittlock?a1400 farthingc1405 spota1413 lipetc1430 offe?1440 drewc1450 remnantc1450 parcel1483 crap1520 flakec1525 patch1528 spark1548 a piece1559 sparklec1570 inch1573 nibbling?1577 scantling1585 scrat1593 mincing1598 scantle1598 halfpenny1600 quantity1600 nip1606 kantch1608 bit1609 catch1613 scripa1617 snap1616 sippeta1625 crumblet1634 scute1635 scantleta1642 snattock1654 cantlet1700 tab1729 pallion1738 smallness1818 knobble1823 wisp1836 1559 H. Machyn Diary (1848) 205 A mayd..dyd cutt her thrott a-pesse, and after she lepyd in-to a welle and drownyd yr seyllff. 1934 in W. W. Gill Manx Dial. ii. 88 That end stack's beginning to heel over a piece. 1990 Sunday Tel. 24 June (Colour Suppl.) 23/3 It saddens me apiece, that we are studying Bresson. c. A portion of the way or distance between two points; a distance, esp. a short one. Now regional (chiefly North American). ΘΚΠ the world > space > distance > [noun] > a short distance wurpc950 stepc1000 footc1300 furlong wayc1384 stone-casta1387 straw brede14.. tinec1420 weec1420 field-breadth1535 field-broad1535 pair of butts1545 straw-breadth1577 stone's throw1581 way-bit?1589 space1609 piece1612 littlea1616 spirt1670 a spit and a stride1676 hair's breadth1706 rope's length1777 biscuit throw1796 a whoop and a holler1815 biscuit toss1836 biscuit cast1843 stone-shot1847 pieceway1886 stone-put1896 pitch-and-putt1925 pieceways1932 1612 J. Brinsley Ludus Lit. xx. 230 By practice, euery day going a piece, and oft reading ouer and ouer, they will grow very much, to your great ioy. 1707 Session Bk. Glasserton MS 6 Apr. John Stewart..acknowledged that he went after sermons upon a Sabbath day to the sea shore a little piece from his dwelling house. 1754 E. Burt Lett. N. Scotl. I. viii. 181 He told us we must go West a Piece..and then incline to the North. 1835 J. Hogg Tales Wars Montrose I. 49 I'll make my brother Adam carry it piece about with you. 1873 E. B. Tuttle Boy's Bk. Indians 134 Major Gordon descended the ridge..and carrying the body of Stambaugh a piece, hid it away in some bushes. 1908 L. M. Montgomery Anne of Green Gables ii. 18 We've got to drive a long piece, haven't we? Mrs. Spencer said it was eight miles. 1971 Sunday Express (Johannesburg) 28 Mar. (Home-finder section) 3/3 (advt.) Nearby golf courses, Not forgetting swinging Margate..just up the road a piece. 1985 B. Oreström Corpus Shetland English 41 You've noticed the swa patch on the backs of some of these tups... That was for so that..the men..could see them at a long piece away. 1992 Down East Feb. 22/1 A new shop in Manset [is] down the road a piece from Wilbur's place. 11. a. An item of armour; a part of a suit of armour. Now chiefly in compounds, with prefixed word indicating the part of the body protected, as headpiece n., shoulder-piece n., thigh-piece n. at thigh n. Compounds 2, etc. †armed at (also of) all pieces: wearing a full suit of armour, completely protected (obsolete). ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > military equipment > armour > [adjective] > clad in or protected by armour armedc1300 wrienc1330 steel-clada1400 armed at (also of) all piecesc1400 harnessedc1460 enarmedc1540 armoured1564 steeled1596 iron-clothed1728 armour-clad1768 hoplomachic1832 well-armoured1852 brazen-mailed1870 pamphract1890 c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) 2021 (MED) He hadde vpon vche pece, Wypped ful wel & wlonk. c1450 King Ponthus (Digby) in Publ. Mod. Lang. Assoc. Amer. (1897) 12 40 (MED) They shall fynde the blak knyght armyd at all pecys. c1500 Melusine (1895) 248 Thenne toke he his armures & armed hym of al pieces. c1550 Clarodius iii. 336 He ischit furth..Enarmit at all peices. 1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. xxxi. 799 The regiment of the footmen..came but slowly forward, by reason they were heauily armed at all peeces. 1674 C. Cotton tr. B. de Montluc Commentaries i. 50 There was no horse so tall..but he could arm'd at all pieces, vault into the Seat. 1752 T. Carte Gen. Hist. Eng. III. 376 This nobleman's staff, lighting on the King's head-piece and taking away the pennage fastened to it with iron. 1774 J. Ayloffe Acct. Some Eng. Hist. Paintings at Cowdry 12 The King's Majesty, armed at all pieces, mounted upon a goodly courser. 1816 J. B. Burges Dragon Knight 62 The youth..oft the splendour of my arms admir'd, The name, the use, of ev'ry piece enquir'd. 1898 Archaeol. Jrnl. 55 119 The head-piece, which is a visored salade. 1995 V. Chandra Red Earth & Pouring Rain (1996) 130 Dull grey thigh-pieces with decorative engraving suggestive of leaves and creepers. †b. A fortress or stronghold. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > defence > defensive work(s) > fort or fortified town > [noun] chestera855 boroughc893 fastnessOE strength?c1225 warnestore1297 fortress13.. holdc1330 strongholdc1384 motec1390 fortalicec1425 garnisonc1430 garrisonc1430 town of war1441 wall-town1488 strengh1489 afforciament1509 piece1525 forcea1552 citadel1567 fort1569 place1575 holt1600 alcazar1623 fasthold1623 afforcement1642 castle-town1646 post1648 garrison-town1649 bridlea1661 palank1685 place of arms1704 ostrog1761 qila1761 presidio1763 gurry1786 thana1803 pa1823 castrum1836 lis1845 Gibraltar1856 training post1867 kasbah1902 jong1904 1525 in State Papers Henry VIII (1830) I. 160 The demaundes made by Mons^r. de Buren for the Duchie of Burgon, and diverse other gret peaces in Fraunce. 1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 83 He receyued againe all the holdes and peeces which his father had lost. 1596 W. Warner Albions Eng. (rev. ed.) x. lviii. 256 This Guize bereft vs Calice, and in France our Peeces all. 1673 J. Ray Observ. Journey Low-countries 3 Ostend..is most regularly and exactly fortified, so that it seemed to us one of the strongest Pieces in all the Low-Countries. 1721 J. Strype Eccl. Memorials II. ii. v. 288 A commission..to repair..to the town of Calais and to certain other pieces on that side of the seas. †c. A boat or ship. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > vessels propelled by oars or poles > [noun] > vessels propelled by oars and sails > others piece1545 frigate1585 1545 in State Papers Henry VIII (1830) I. 809 Capitaynes and leaders of His Highnes rowyng peces. 1675 London Gaz. No. 1004/1 To go and see the Royal James,..and several other pieces built by Commissioner Deane. 12. A scrap or cutting of cloth, leather, etc., esp. used to repair a hole or tear; a patch. Cf. piece v. 1. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > materials > types of material generally > [noun] > patch of material for mending clouta700 patcha1382 piece?c1430 speckc1440 piece-patch1880 the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > [noun] > piece of > other pieces piece?c1430 fasel1440 speckc1440 pane1459 rag?1536 remnant1571 fag end1607 swatch1647 cut1753 rigg1769 hag's teeth1777 bias1824 spetch1828 shredlet1840 bias tape1884 short end1960 ?c1430 (c1400) Rule St. Francis (Corpus Cambr.) in F. D. Matthew Eng. Wks. Wyclif (1880) 41 (MED) Þei may pese hem aȝen or cloute hem of sacchis & oþere pecis. 1433 Rolls of Parl. IV. 452/1 The same Clothe to be sold for a remenaunt, or for a pece, and nat for a Clothe. 1583 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Serm. on Deuteronomie cxc. 1183 They were as a clowte patched together of many peeces. 1600 T. Dekker Shomakers Holiday sig. B3 (stage direct.) Enter Symon Eyre, his wife, Hodge, Firk, lane, & Rafe with a peece. 1635 Bp. T. Morton Of Inst. Sacrament (ed. 2) vi. v. 461 Your Disputers..performe as fond and fruitlesse a labour, as the patching of old Vestments with new pieces, whereby the rent is made worse. a1677 T. Manton Serm. (1678) I. xix. 375 Their Religion is but like a new Piece in an old Garment. 1749 B. Martin Lingua Britannica Reformata at Patch To mend with patches, or pieces. 1760 G. Baretti Dict. Eng. & Ital. Lang. I. at Ripezzatura A coat full of pieces and patches. 1882 Amer. Missionary Apr. 113 The motherly lady..finds patches and pieces..till the garments are whole again. a1976 C. Reznikoff Testimony (1979) II. 137 The man's tracks showed the heel of the shoe for the right foot mended and a piece set in. 13. Heraldry. One of the sections into which a shield is divided (usually by stripes or bars). Also: a stripe or bar. ΚΠ c1460 Bk. Arms in Ancestor (1903) Apr. 183 (MED) [Sable two crowned lions passant] gobbone of vj pecys, [silver and gules]. c1460 Bk. Arms in Ancestor (1903) Apr. 186 (MED) Beryth Stafford and sylvyr ix pecys. 1572 J. Bossewell Wks. Armorie ii. f. 38^v Geronnie of vj pieces Or and Sable. 1610 J. Guillim Display of Heraldrie v. i. 240 Hee beareth Gyronny of sixe peeces Sable and Or, three Nigroes heads couped Proper. 1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory i. iv. 37 The French Herauld..doth blazon this Coat a Fesse of six pieces, but this is in regard the word (Face) stand for both a Fesse and a Barr. 1722 A. Nisbet Syst. Heraldry I. 39 Pally of eight Pieces, (others say, Eight Pieces Pale-ways) Or and Gules. 1782 Jrnls. Continental Congr. (U.S.) 7 20 June 395 Paleways of thirteen pieces, argent and gules; a chief azure; the escutcheon on the breast of the American eagle displayed proper. 1830 T. Robson Brit. Herald III. Gloss. Cross patriarchal or double cross, (French, croix double) composed of one piece in pale, and two transverse horizontal pieces. 1909 Hist. Seal U.S. (U.S. Dept. State) 28 Barry of thirteen pieces, Argent & Gules. 1994 B. F. Shearer & B. S. Shearer State Names, Seals, Flags, & Symbols iii. 49 The 1st and 4th quarters represent the arms of the Calvert family described in heraldic language as a paly of 6 pieces, or (gold) and sable (black). 14. The product or result of an art, craft, etc. Cf. sense 1c. a. A painting, picture; a tapestry; †a portrait (obsolete). ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > painting and drawing > [noun] > a picture metingOE portraiturea1393 picture?a1425 piece1503 portrait1560 pictural1590 composure?1606 transumpt1629 composition1753 delineation1772 depictment1816 vraisemblance1857 piccy1865 pic1884 pitcher1915 pictorial1949 1503 in J. B. Paul Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1900) II. 214 Bocht..ane pece of Hercules..tua pecis of Susanna sewit togiddir. 1594 H. Plat Jewell House 51 (heading) To refresh the colours of olde peeces that bee wrought in oyle. 1663 S. Pepys Diary 27 Feb. (1971) IV. 59 There is also a very excellent piece of the King done by Holben. 1697 tr. Countess D'Aunoy's Trav. (1706) 173 I was all alone in my apartment, busie in painting a small Piece. 1742 Defoe's Tour Great Brit. (ed. 3) II. 214 A cloathed Resurrection Piece, painted by Sir James Thornhill. 1770 J. Langhorne & W. Langhorne tr. Plutarch Lives (1879) I. 183/1 The painter valued himself upon the celerity and ease with which he dispatched his pieces. 1843 N. Amer. Rev. Oct. 383 His first attempts in painting were church pieces, for which he was miserably paid. 1892 J. G. Brighton Adm. of Fleet 228 Two sea-pieces by Musin occupy a considerable space. 1947 R. Messner Selling Printing & Direct Advertising vi. 140 Both the simplest black-and-white pieces and the most elaborate productions in many colors. 1991 J. Richardson Life of Picasso I. iii. 40 ‘Two abandoned blooms’ is how Barrero dismissed his attempt at a flower piece. b. A (usually short) literary composition; an article for a newspaper, journal, or similar publication. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > literature > a written composition > [noun] i-writeOE bookOE writOE workOE pagine?c1225 lettrurec1330 dite1340 inditing1340 writing1340 scripta1350 dittya1387 stylea1400 scriptiona1425 framec1475 invention1484 piece1533 ditement1556 paperwork1577 composition1603 confection1605 composure?1606 page?1606 the written word1619 performance1665 literature1852 society > communication > journalism > journal > matter of or for journals > [noun] > article piece1533 notice1592 article1701 contribution1714 magazine article1820 magazine paper1833 society > leisure > the arts > literature > prose > essay > [noun] > article piece1533 article1701 column1926 1533 T. More Debellacyon Salem & Bizance Pref. f. iii^v Vnto one lytell pyece, one greate cunnynge man had made a long answere, of twelue whole shetys of paper. 1593 T. Churchyard Challenge 58 I haue written a little peece of the nature of a quarrell compounded on many accidents. 1643 Sir T. Browne Religio Medici (authorized ed.) i. §20 That Villain and Secretary of Hell, that composed that miscreant piece Of the Three Impostors . View more context for this quotation 1691 J. Ray Wisdom of God 28 There is a Posthumous piece extant, imputed to Cartes. 1710 Ld. Shaftesbury Soliloquy 175 That exteriour Proportion and Symmetry of Composition, which constitutes a legitimate Piece. 1775 S. Johnson Let. 22 May (1992) II. 209 I am not sorry that you read Boswel[l]'s Journal. Is it not a merry piece? 1824 J. Johnson Typographia I. 529 He printed most of Archbishop Cranmer's pieces. 1878 R. Browning Poets Croisic xxix A poet also, author of a piece Printed and published. 1936 D. Powell Turn, Magic Wheel i. 36 That..fellow who was always after him to write a ‘piece’ for the weekly he ran. 1995 J. Miller Voxpop v. 90 When you open the Sunday supplements there's always a piece on Jack Dee, Eddie Izzard or even Danny Baker. c. A statue or sculpture. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > plastic art > sculpture or carving > [noun] > a sculpture or carving graving1382 carvingc1384 similitudea1450 piece1579 insculpturea1616 sculpture1616 draught1646 cut1658 cutting1787 sculpc1845 mushroom stone1957 1579 W. Fulke Confut. Treat. N. Sander in D. Heskins Ouerthrowne 634 I do so honour auncient images, that I make as great account of a peece of Nero,..as I do of Constantius. 1629 J. Maxwell tr. Herodian Hist. 48 Most of the fairest Peeces in all the Citie, perisht in these flames. 1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 75 [A mountain] on whose Summit was a miraculous Piece hewed out of solid Stone. 1731 N. Amhurst Collection Poems 35 A curious Piece, compleat in every Part, The utmost Trial of her Plastick Art. 1757 tr. J. G. Keyssler Trav. II. 119 A marble boat placed before the church, and said to be a votive piece. 1870 R. W. Emerson Society & Solitude 45 In sculpture, did ever anybody call the Apollo a fancy piece? 1950 D. Gascoyne Vagrant 13 A hand-high Rodin piece. 1992 Independent 4 Feb. 15/1 One of the horrors of the past year was the piece by Sir Anthony Caro called Octagon Tower. d. An artefact; a work of art; a production; a contrivance. See also masterpiece n. 1a. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > work > product of work > [noun] workeOE workingc1350 notea1400 piece of work1473 overage1474 workmanship1523 piece1604 opificec1616 jobbie1950 1604 E. Grimeston tr. J. de Acosta Nat. & Morall Hist. Indies v. viii. 349 They buried with them much wealth, as golde, silver, stones,..bracelets of gold, and other rich peeces. 1697 W. Dampier New Voy. around World xviii. 517 He busied himself in making a Chest,..he was as proud of it, as if it had been the rarest piece in the World. 1753 Scots Mag. Aug. 418/2 This antique piece appears to be a floor of a Roman sudatory. 1817 W. Gifford tr. Juvenal in Satires of Juvenal & Persius II. 71 The rough soldier, yet untaught by Greece To hang, enraptured, o'er a finish'd piece. 1881 H. James Portrait of Lady II. v. 74 Mr. Osmond continued to be the kindest of ciceroni, as he led her from one fine piece to another. 1904 H. James Golden Bowl I. vii. 141 Representative precious objects, great ancient pictures..fine eminent ‘pieces’ in gold, in silver..had for a number of years..multiplied themselves round him. 1992 N.Y. Times Mag. 13 Dec. 68/1 ‘We definitely have to have this piece in this collection,’ Krier insists. e. A dramatic work, a play. Also in extended use, esp. in the villain of the piece. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > drama > a play > [noun] playeOE joyc1440 sportc1475 historya1509 drama?1521 stage playa1535 gameplay1560 show1565 device1598 piece1616 auto1670 action1679 natak1826 speakie1921 1616 B. Jonson Epicœne Prol., in Wks. I. 529 There will be some, That, when they leaue their seates, shall make 'hem say, Who wrot that piece, could so haue wrote a play. View more context for this quotation 1643 Sir T. Browne Religio Medici (authorized ed.) i. §47 In the last scene, all the Actors must enter to compleat and make up the Catastrophe of this great peece . View more context for this quotation 1728 A. Pope Dunciad i. 228 A past, vamp'd, future, old, reviv'd, new piece, 'Twixt Plautus, Fletcher, Congreve, and Corneille. 1781 R. B. Sheridan Critic i. i On the first night of a new piece they always fill the house with orders to support it. 1822 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 12 783 In the old dramatists of Greece, prologizing..formed..an integral portion of the structure of the piece. 1867 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest I. iv. 252 Arnulf, as usual, appears as the villain of the piece. 1933 E. K. Chambers Eng. Folk-play 13 Structurally, the piece falls into three parts: the Presentation.., the Drama.., the Quête. 1990 Amateur Stage Sept. 23/3 The piece is very dated and there is a strange sense of pathos in the attempts to recapture the magic of the particular period. f. A musical composition, usually short, and either independent or forming a distinct part of a larger work. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > music > piece of music > [noun] workOE musica1586 composure?1606 composition1667 writings1672 morceau1748 op.1784 piece1825 opusc1840 confection1844 number1865 oeuvre1889 1737 Mem. Soc. Grub-St. I. 282 My Overture then, or opening piece, shall be played off in honour of our musicians. 1795 J. C. Murphy Trav. Portugal 251 He entered the room..and played a difficult piece in a masterly manner. 1825 J. Neal Brother Jonathan I. 95 Nobody can bear to hear..a favourite piece over and over again the same night. 1874 Atlantic Monthly Apr. 421 He..looks at the music, and if the piece interests him, he will call upon you. 1922 D. H. Lawrence Aaron's Rod (N.Y. ed.) xiii. 187 Lady Franks started with a vivace Schumann piece. 1992 Classic CD May 17/1 The whole piece is really quite light and airy and it ends on a very loud E flat chord. g. A passage for recitation; a short speech. Now chiefly U.S. and English regional except in to say (also speak) one's piece: to have one's say, to express one's opinion on a subject or question; to make a statement. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > belief > expressed belief, opinion > personal opinion > express one's opinion [verb] to speak one's mindc1500 to open one's budget1548 to speak (also give) one's sense1646 pronounce1801 to say (also speak) one's piece1822 the mind > language > speech > speech-making > recitation > [noun] > something to be recited or read aloud lurryc1580 reciter1760 speaker1774 piece1822 speech1886 1822 C. M. Sedgwick New-Eng. Tale vi. 85 The young woman was to speak a piece of her own framing. 1865 C. F. Browne Artemus Ward his Trav. ii. i. 128 I have spoken my piece about the Ariel. 1895 ‘Rosemary’ Under Chilterns 83 All the ‘pieces’ that the children learnt to repeat at school they taught to her. 1941 U. Orange Tom Tiddler's Ground vi. 117 Lady Cameron was simply furious with me after that concert-party episode, when I just flatly refused to say my piece. 1973 J. Porter It's Murder with Dover xi. 115 ‘You didn't speak to Marsh again?’ ‘No. I'd said my piece.’ 2003 Washington Times 9 Apr. c09 He..gives each caller a chance to say his piece before moving on. h. slang (originally U.S.). A spray-painted graffiti mural. ΚΠ 1980 N.Y. Times 19 Oct. vi. 58/2 ‘Doing my quick pieces,’ he says, ‘I get better style when I'm stoned. That's 'cause tagging is fun. A serious piece is more like sweat, like doing your homework.’ 1995 P. Bourgois In Search of Respect (1997) v. 186 The best [graffiti] artists are able to maintain their ‘pieces’..for several weeks before they are defaced by competitors. 2003 Nation (Thailand) (Nexis) 22 Sept. Elaborate, multicoloured works called pieces by graffiti-writers are seen on walls or abandoned buildings everywhere. 15. A weapon; a firearm. a. A cannon or similar large-calibre gun; spec. the barrel of such a weapon. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > firearm > piece of artillery > [noun] gun1339 enginec1380 great gunc1430 ordnancec1450 cannona1460 piece1512 spitfire1611 tube1763 barker1815 by and by1857 big gun1886 centre-fire1889 1512 in J. B. Paul Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1902) IV. 460 To the quaryour..at makis stans to the small pecis in the bark. 1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie ii. xxiv. f. 65^v Diuers great and little peeces aswell of brasse as of yron. 1600 E. Fairfax tr. T. Tasso Godfrey of Bulloigne ix. liv. 170 So from a piece two chained bullets flie. 1669 S. Sturmy Mariners Mag. v. xii. 67 To know what Shot and Powder is meet for every Piece. 1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) Pieces, (in Warlike Affairs) signify Cannon or great Guns, as Battering-Pieces which are us'd at Sieges..: Field-pieces. 1769 W. Falconer Universal Dict. Marine at Range To fire a piece by way of the ricochet, the cannon is only charged with a quantity of powder sufficient to carry the shot along the face of the works attacked. 1811 Duke of Wellington Dispatches (1837) VII. 249 They ought to make an emplacement for their field pieces. 1875 C. Clery Minor Tactics x. 123 Part of the attacking force should be directed against the covering party and part against the pieces. 1923 R. Kipling Irish Guards in Great War I. 39 The enemy attacked—with rifle-fire and a close-range small piece. 1993 Washington Post (National Weekly ed.) 7 June 8/1 Enemy tanks and artillery pieces had been unscathed by the bombing raids. b. A portable firearm; a handgun. Now slang. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > firearm > small-arm > [noun] handgun1411 piece1575 small arms1685 popper1751 shooting-iron1775 pelter1827 squib1839 shooter1840 shooting-stick1845 Betsy1856 smoke-wagon1891 rod1903 gat1904 belt gun1905 roscoe1914 smoke-stick1927 heat1928 heater1929 smoke-pole1929 John Roscoe1932 1575 G. Gascoigne Complaint Greene Knight in Posies 183 My chaunce was late to haue a peerlesse firelock peece. 1581 T. Styward Pathwaie to Martiall Discipline i. 44 Such must haue..a good and sufficient peece, flaske, touch bore, pouder, shot, &c. 1591 G. Fletcher Of Russe Common Wealth xvi. f. 58^v The stocke of his piece is not made calieuer wise, but..somewhat like a fowling piece. 1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 332 Taught to handle all maner of weapons, but especially the bow, the peece, and the Scimitar. a1656 R. Gordon Geneal. Hist. Earldom of Sutherland (1813) 216 Captane John Gordoun wes deidlie wounded with a peece, by one of the Earle of Murray his servants, at his verie first approach. 1704 London Gaz. No. 4044/3 Our Grenadiers..put their Bayonets in the Muzzles of their Pieces. 1788 J. Priestley Lect. Hist. v. lx. 475 Considering how many arrows might be drawn before one piece could have been loaded and discharged. 1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xvi. 674 Five hundred grenadiers rushed..to the counterscarp, fired their pieces, and threw their grenades. 1870 E. Peacock Ralf Skirlaugh III. 254 He knelt on one knee, and levelled his piece direct at William's head. 1956 ‘E. McBain’ Cop Hater (1958) x. 91 In this neighbourhood, you don't carry a knife or a piece, you're dead. 1992 V. Headley Yardie (1993) 126 All the youths carry pieces..and they just rob and shoot each other every day. †c. A crossbow. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > archer's weapons > [noun] > bow > crossbow arbalesta1100 arbalestrea1387 crossbow1432 pellock bow1537 latch1547 piece1590 stock-bow1598 steel bow1607 balister1679 arcubalist1774 oblest1780 1590 in W. H. Stevenson Rec. Borough Nottingham (1889) IV. 60 Quod dictus Fabianus non sagittabit in aliquo le peece ad aliquam rem vivam. 1598 R. Dallington View of Fraunce (1606) sig. T iv^v The Crossebowe... Once in a yere, there is in each city a shooting with the Peeces at a Popingay of wood. 1598 R. Dallington View of Fraunce (1606) sig. T ^v By this practise..he groweth more ready and perfit in the vse of his Peece. 16. a. A coin. Frequently with modifying word, as crown piece, seven-shilling piece, tenpence piece, gold piece, etc. Cf. sense 1b. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > money > medium of exchange or currency > coins collective > [noun] > a coin minteOE minteOE crossc1330 coinc1386 cross and (or) pilea1393 penny1394 croucha1420 penny1427 piece1472 metal1485 piecec1540 stamp1594 quinyie1596 cross and pilea1625 numm1694 ducat1794 bean1811 dog1811 chinker1834 rock1837 pocket-burner1848 spondulicks1857 scale1872 chip1879 ridge1935 c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 1367 Maydons..no hede toke Of golde..ffongit no florence, ne no fyn pesys. 1575 in J. H. Burton Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1878) 1st Ser. II. 455 To be payit all in half merk pecis. 1617 F. Moryson Itinerary i. 289 They coyne any peece, of which they can make gayne. 1658 A. Wood Life & Times (1891) I. 241 A peice of p(ope) Jo(hn) the 23, and also a French peice. 1711 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1889) III. 102 The Gold Piece found in St. Gyles's Field. 1788 J. Priestley Lect. Hist. iii. xvi. 134 These pieces were not called farthings, but farthing tokens. 1845 R. Ford Hand-bk. Travellers in Spain I. i. 5 The value..of any individual piece is very uncertain. 1870 H. W. Henfrey Guide Eng. Coins i. 87 One-third guinea or seven-shilling piece. 1934 P. Allingham Cheapjack iv. 38 A shilling is also a ‘hole’, and a two-shilling piece is a ‘two-ender’. 1992 Looks July 52/1 Use a dollop of shampoo the size of a 10-pence piece to get your hair squeaky-clean. b. piece of eight n. the Spanish silver dollar, or peso, worth eight reals and marked with the figure 8. Now historical. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > money > medium of exchange or currency > coins collective > foreign coins > [noun] > Spanish coins > silver > Spanish dollar royal of plate1559 piastre1592 rial of eight1598 piece of eight1606 royal of eight1606 real of eight1612 rial1640 plate-piece of eight1680 cob1681 cross-dollar1689 duro1777 1606 E. Scott Exact Disc. East Indians sig. E3^v I profered them a peece of eight a man, which they much scorned. 1694 Narbrough's Acct. Several Late Voy. 97 The Spaniards..paid for what things they bought in good Pillar pieces of Eight. 1727 A. Hamilton New Acct. E. Indies II. xliv. 130 At Rambang I bought a cow..for two Pieces of Eight. 1790 R. Beatson Naval & Mil. Mem. I. 163 The Salisbury..took a Spanish ship, with one hundred and fifty thousand pieces of eight on board. 1840 J. F. Cooper Mercedes of Castile I. xv. 242 He slipped a piece of eight into the hand of the sailor. 1882 E. Arber Eng. Garner V. 227 (note) Peso..was the monetary Unit of Central America; afterwards known as the Piece of Eight, and is the Mexican dollar of the present day. 1929 Travel Jan. 17/2 And where lies the robber hoard—perhaps pieces of eight, onzas, massive golden jewels of Old Spain. 1998 Coin News May 40/3 It was denominated 8 Reales, which gave rise to its being called a ‘piece o' eight’ or ‘eight bits’. †c. Any of various English gold coins current in different periods; spec. (a) the unite of James I; (b) a sovereign; (c) a guinea. See also broad-piece n. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > money > medium of exchange or currency > coins collective > English coins > [noun] > coin of twenty shillings goldfinch1602 Harry sovereign1615 piece1631 jingle-boya1640 yellow boy1654 quid1661 marigold1663 broad-piece1678 pound piecea1715 gold penny1736 sovereign1817 dragon1827 sov1829 chip?1836 couter1846 thick 'un1848 monarch1851 James1858 skiv1858 Victoria1870 goblin1887 red one1890 Jimmy1899 quidlet1902 Jimmy O'Goblin1931 pound coin1931 society > trade and finance > money > medium of exchange or currency > coins collective > English coins > [noun] > unite or Jacobus unite1604 Jacobite piece1611 Jacobine1612 Jacobus1612 piece1631 Jacob1662 sceptre1695 sceptre-piece1695 sceptre broad-piece1701 sceptre-unite1853 society > trade and finance > money > medium of exchange or currency > coins collective > English coins > [noun] > guinea or twenty-one shillings goldfinch1602 piece1631 yellow boy1654 Guinea1666 broad gold1688 meg1688 broad1710 George's guinea1721 yellow1722 canary bird1785 stranger1785 yellow George1785 Geordie1786 spade-guinea1853 George guinea1880 1631 B. Jonson Divell is Asse iii. iii, in Wks. II. 133 What is't? a hundred pound?..No, th' Harpey, now, stands on a hundred pieces. 1660 S. Pepys Diary 14 Mar. (1970) I. 86 Here I got half a piece of a person of Mr. Wrights recommending to my Lord to be preacher in the Speaker frigate. 1706 R. Estcourt Fair Example iii. i. 34 Fifty Pieces are 50 Pound, 50 Shillings, and 50 Six-pences: I know what they are well enough, and you too. 1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Coin Guinea, or Piece. 1805 Earl of Liverpool Treat. Coins Realm 50 He reduced the Sovereign, or Piece of 20 Shillings of the new Standard, from 7 dwts, 4 grs. to 6 dwts, 10¾. 17. Chess. Any of the figures used in playing chess; esp. (more fully piece of honour, dignified piece) any of the more valuable figures, such as the king, queen, etc., as distinct from the pawns. Also in extended use, with reference to other games. Cf. man n.¹ 24. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > board game > [noun] > piece manc1460 tableman1480 piece1562 counter1600 game piece1880 onesie1888 tile1923 gamesman1931 meeple2000 society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > board game > chess > [noun] > pieces > a piece chess1303 chequer1474 chessmen1474 piece1562 pin1688 chess man1853 1562 tr. Damiano da Odemira Pleasaunt Playe of Cheasts sig. Aiv The principle is to knowe the pieces, to wit, the name, the number, and the seat of euery one. 1591 J. Florio Second Frutes 262 A. Doth it pleese you then to play at the chesse..? S. Order your peeces. a1649 W. Drummond Hist. Scotl. (1655) 263 In this case they [sc. pawns] are surrogated in those void Rooms of the pieces of honour, which because they suffered themselves to be taken, were removed off the Boord. 1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory (1905) iii. xvi. 67/1 What peice or man soeuer of your owne you touch or lift from its place, you must play it for that draught where you can. 1745 P. Stamma Noble Game of Chess 112 Look first whether your Adversary cannot pin that Piece down. 1799 P. Pratt Theory of Chess iii. 19 Never cover him [sc. the king] from check by placing a dignified piece in that manner, that a commoner of the adversary..could take him. 1816 Stratagems of Chess (1817) 11 Place the queen, bishop or castle behind a pawn or a piece. 1898 S. Culin Chess & Playing Cards 836 Set of thirty-two domino pieces of teak wood. 1950 Official Gaz. (U.S. Patent Office) 10 Jan. 334/2 The Production and Marketing Corporation, Newtown, Conn... Scrabble. For Game including Board and Playing Pieces. 1991 Sci. Amer. Nov. 17 Stiller designed his program to analyze all possible endgames involving two kings, four pieces and no pawns. 18. British regional (chiefly Scottish, Irish English, and English regional (northern)) and U.S. regional. A portion of bread, esp. eaten on its own rather than as part of a meal; a sandwich; (gen.) a morsel of food, a snack, a light meal. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > bread > piece of bread > [noun] > slice of bread shivea1250 shiverc1386 sheavec1480 round1769 piece1787 1619 A. Simson in W. K. Tweedie Sel. Biogr. (1845) I. 103 He took a piece and blessed it. c1660 S. Rutherford Christs Napkin 15 The bairn that is greeting..for a piece or a drink. 1768 A. Ross Fortunate Shepherdess 28 Rest you bony hen, An' tak a piece, your bed's be made the ben. 1787 A. Shirrefs Jamie & Bess iv. i. 55 Neither tak' her siller nor a piece. 1834 Chambers's Edinb. Jrnl. 3 254/2 Receiving each a piece and jelly on't from granny, because they were guid bairns. 1878 C. Hallock Sportsman's Gaz. (ed. 4) 696 Piece, a lunch, a snack (Pennsylvania). 1949 ‘J. Tey’ Brat Farrar xix. 175 Saturday afternoon was a holiday for the Ashby children and they were accustomed..to take a ‘piece’ with them and pursue their various interests in the countryside. 1995 K. Atkinson Behind Scenes at Museum (1996) 64 Frank remembered he had pieces in his jacket pocket..and they sat and ate the squashed squares of bread and strawberry jam. 19. a. Chiefly North American. Originally: a package of furs or other goods weighing about ninety pounds (approx. 41 kg). Now historical. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > merchandise > [noun] > load or lot of specific size or abundance ladec897 cheapc1384 shock1582 commodity1592 allotment1703 piece1774 break1864 lot1872 bulka1888 chance lot1888 trucklot1943 society > travel > aspects of travel > a journey > [noun] > equipment for a journey > baggage trousseauc1230 harnessc1330 fardel1388 flittinga1400 stuff?a1400 baggagec1430 trussellc1440 carriagec1450 trussagec1500 traffic1538 trussery1548 traffe1566 sumpture1567 truss1587 needment1590 luggage1596 sumptery1620 piece1809 traps1813 roll-up1831 dunnage1834 kit1834 way baggage1836 swag1853 drum1861 swag bag1892 1774 S. Hearne Jrnl. 11 Oct. (1934) 122 By the Masters account..65 or 70 Packs or Caggs, called by them Pieces, are put on board each canoe. 1809 A. Henry Trav. & Adventures Canada i. ii. 24 The method of carrying the packages, or pieces, as they are called, is the same with that of the Indian women. 1899 Westm. Gaz. 15 May 10/1 The postal establishment of the United States..handles more pieces, employs more men, spends more money..than any other human organisation, public or private. 1931 G. L. Nute Voyageur 38 Each package, or piece, was made up to weigh ninety pounds, and two ears were left at the top by which the voyageur could lift it easily in the manner of a modern flour bag. 1972 T. McHugh Time of Buffalo viii. 89 A single sack, weighing about ninety pounds, was known as a ‘piece’ of pemmican, and made a convenient parcel for back-packing or portaging. b. gen. An article of luggage; an item of property in transit. ΚΠ 1890 T. M. Cooley et al. Railways Amer. 253 The cases in which pieces go astray are astonishingly rare. 1914 W. D. Steele Storm 274 The man on the steps had taken up his luggage, but now he put the two pieces down again. 1999 South China Morning Post (Hong Kong) 15 Oct. 24/4 I have seen passengers lugging two large pieces on board. 20. Malting. A batch or quantity of barley spread out for steeping; = floor n.¹ 6b. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > drink > manufacture of alcoholic drink > malting > [noun] > steeping grain > quantity for steeping wetting1720 piece1832 1832 W. Champion Maltster's Guide 43 The turning of his floors or pieces. 1885 H. Stopes Malt & Malting xix. 346 When a floor is finished, it is the rule with all good maltsters to sweep up between pieces. 1921 J. Ross-mackenzie Brewing & Malting ii. 14 The maltster..avoids excessive sprinkling of water on the ‘pieces’. 1965 O. A. Mendelsohn Dict. Drink 259 Piece, the maltster's term for barley undergoing germination. It can be No. 1, 2, 3 Piece according to stage. 21. Chiefly Australian and New Zealand. Sheep-shearing. In plural. Oddments of wool separated from the skirtings of a fleece; (also) the skirtings themselves. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > fleece > [noun] > parts of breeching1799 breech1805 piece1849 britch1884 neck1928 1849 Times 3 Sept. 3/6 White at 7d. to 7³/ ₄d., and locks and pieces, 5¹/ ₄d. to 6¹/ ₄d. 1891 R. Wallace Rural Econ. Austral. & N.Z. xxix. 384 The washing of wool, either before or after shearing, is, with the exception of locks and pieces, which are generally scoured, almost entirely given up. 1951 L. G. D. Acland Early Canterbury Runs 378 Fleece, the main part of a sheep's wool, which is picked up in one, skirted, and rolled. This is sold as fleece wool, as opposed to locks, bellies, and pieces. 1971 J. S. Gunn Distrib. Shearing Terms New S. Wales 20 The south was the only area where..there was a preference for pieces rather than skirtings. 2003 Dominion Post (Wellington, N.Z.) (Nexis) 14 Nov. 8 Second shear bellies and pieces, average style, nominally unchanged; average/poor and poor, 2 to 3 per cent cheaper. 22. In plural. Sugar of inferior quality, obtained from a later boiling of the sugar liquor. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > additive > sweetener > [noun] > sugar > crystal sugar pieces1867 crystals1875 turbinado1909 coffee sugar1926 1867 Produce Markets Rev. 13 July 161/1 The character of the Pieces Sugar made in London retrogrades rather than improves as a whole. 1884 Western Morning News 4 Sept. 6/5 Sugar..London pieces, rather quiet, steady. 1907 Yesterday's Shopping (1969) 42 When Members order White Moist Sugar, it is understood that a low grade Sugar is required, known in the trade as ‘Pieces’. 1957 R. W. Beachey Brit. W. Indies Sugar Industry ii. 49 Much of the sugar from the sugar colonies went to the refiners of moist sugar ‘pieces’. 1971 ‘P. Hobson’ Three Graces xiii. 129 He'd been sent to get sugar for their teas... ‘Golden,’ he said..and the girl at the counter said ‘You mean pieces.’ 23. A player in an orchestra or band; (in extended use) the instrument played.Now chiefly in singular with prefixed numeral, esp. forming an attributive phrase, as four-piece band, etc. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > music > musician > instrumentalist > [noun] > member(s) of orchestra or band concerteer1826 piece1869 personnel1938 1869 Times 14 July 4/5 There were 10,000 people in the place and the orchestra numbered 500 pieces. 1912 Ladies' Home Jrnl. May 70/2 We had..a band consisting of fourteen pieces (three mouth organs and eleven combs). 1925 F. S. Fitzgerald Great Gatsby iii. 48 The orchestra has arrived, no thin five-piece affair, but a whole pitful of oboes and trombones and saxophones. 1938 Melody Maker 27 Aug. 11/4 Billy will use his 14-piece stage band. 1965 New Yorker 2 Jan. 40/1 The only band we had trouble with..was the Savoy Sultans, the house group at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem. They only had eight pieces, but they could swing you into bad health. 1992 C. Thubron Turning back Sun viii. 53 A three-piece orchestra was playing Glinka and Borodin on a dais, and a few couples were dancing. 24. Each of the irregular sections of a jigsaw puzzle. Frequently in extended use. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > entertainment > toy or plaything > puzzle > [noun] > jig-saw puzzle > piece piece1908 1908 Decatur (Illinois) Rev. 29 Nov. 13/3 To make the puzzle cut out the twenty pieces carefully and then fit them neatly together. 1955 H. Kurnitz Invasion of Privacy (1956) ix. 67 There might be something about this case he doesn't understand, a missing piece somewhere. It spoils the picture for him. 1973 G. Scott Water Horse (1974) xxii. 152 If Oliver were really involved in this organization, then certain jigsaw pieces could fall more satisfactorily into place. 1991 U. Markham Your Four Point Plan for Life (BNC) 100 Tip out all the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle onto the table and turn the pieces the right way up. 25. U.S. slang. A quantity of a drug (esp. morphine, heroin, or cocaine) approximately equal to an ounce in weight; (gen.) a dose of a drug. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > an intoxicating drug > [noun] > a quantity of piece1935 twister1936 stash1942 trey1967 weight1971 eight ball1987 the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > an intoxicating drug > [noun] > a) narcotic drug(s) > morphine, cocaine, or heroin > heroin > quantity or dose of piece1935 Jack1967 spoon1968 1935 A. J. Pollock Underworld Speaks 2/2 Piece, a, an ounce of morphine, cocaine or heroin. 1945 W. J. Spillard Needle in Haystack viii. 77 ‘I hava da pieces—pure stuff.’ Pieces was an underworld term for ounces. 1963 U.S. Rep. (Supreme Court) 371 474 Johnny kept about a piece of heroin. [Note] A ‘piece’ is approximately one ounce. 1986 R. A. Spears Slang & Jargon of Drugs & Drink 386 Piece, one ounce of drugs; one ounce of heroin; a dose of drugs. Phrases P1. in pieces: in fragments, broken apart, disintegrated; (figurative) divided, at odds. in (also into, †on, †a) pieces: into portions or fragments, apart; (figurative) into disarray. †to take in pieces: to separate the parts of; (figurative) to analyse (obsolete). ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > dissent > at variance [phrase] in (also into, on, a) piecesa1275 in strife1398 at traversc1448 at issue1474 at a strife1488 at variancea1535 at square1545 at (a) jar1552 at (or to) daggers' drawing1556 at (a) mutiny1567 in (a) mutiny1567 at wrig-wrag1599 at daggers drawn1668 at (or at the, on the) outs1824 loggerhead1831 at daggers' points1857 at swords' points1890 the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > separation or breaking up into constituent parts > into (small) pieces [phrase] in (also into, on, a) piecesa1275 (all) to shiversc1275 to piecesc1300 asundera1325 to set in sunderc1325 in sunderc1390 in, into shredsc1400 in small1419 in piecemeal?a1425 in piecemealsa1470 by piecemeals1576 in shivers1589 in or into splinters1612 a1275 St. Margaret (Trin. Cambr.) l. 176 in A. S. M. Clark Seint Maregrete & Body & Soul (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Michigan) (1972) 61 He [sc. a dragon] barst a two peces. c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 1456 (MED) Þat spere..brast on peces þre. a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vii. 4525 Achias..kut it into pieces twelve. c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. xxi. 62 The wal of þe temple to-cleef euene a two pices. a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll.) 50 Arthurs swerde brake in two pecis. a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 23 They so sore fought that hir shyldis felle on pecis. 1562 Bp. J. Pilkington Expos. Abdyas Pref. 9 The forther that the bowe is drawen, the sooner it flies in pieces. 1600 J. Pory tr. J. Leo Africanus Geogr. Hist. Afr. iii. 133 The butchers cut their flesh a peeces, and sell it by weight. 1659 T. Burton Diary (1828) IV. 480 This takes in pieces your whole form. 1697 W. Dampier New Voy. around World viii. 215 His Ship..being old and rotten fell in pieces. 1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison IV. iv. 21 We are all in pieces: we were in the midst of a feud, when you arrived. 1762 D. Hume Hist. Eng. (new ed.) VI. ii. 59 The instrument of government was taken in pieces, and examined, one article after another. 1842 T. B. Macaulay Virginia in Lays Anc. Rome 163 Must I be torn in pieces? 1876 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest (ed. 2) IV. xviii. 193 When they submitted, their army..at once fell in pieces. 1944 R. Lehmann Ballad & Source 222 We've torn them in pieces and bunged them into a giant's stew-pot. 1991 M. Frutkin Invading Tibet viii. 138 Three Gurkhas leapt forward, slicing him into pieces with their kukris. P2. a. to pieces: into fragments; apart, asunder; (figurative) into a state of disorganization, confusion, or ruin. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > separation or breaking up into constituent parts > into (small) pieces [phrase] in (also into, on, a) piecesa1275 (all) to shiversc1275 to piecesc1300 asundera1325 to set in sunderc1325 in sunderc1390 in, into shredsc1400 in small1419 in piecemeal?a1425 in piecemealsa1470 by piecemeals1576 in shivers1589 in or into splinters1612 c1300 St. Oswald (Laud) 24 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 46 And to-brak it al to smale peces. c1330 (?c1300) Bevis of Hampton (Auch.) 790 (MED) On þe scholder he smot þe bor; His spere barst to pises þore. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 6542 (MED) Þe tables þat in hand he bare To pees [a1400 Fairf. in peces] he þam brak. a1475 (?a1350) Seege Troye (Harl.) (1927) 1761 (MED) Houndis myght gnawyn him to pecis. c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) cxvii. 419 Our shyp brast all to pecys. 1588 T. Hariot Briefe Rep. Virginia sig. C2 They make them victuall..by boyling them all to pieces into a broth. 1615 T. Adams Blacke Devill 46 It shall breake to peeces, like a pot-sheard. 1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory ii. xiv. 321/1 Others have a softer Shell, or a tender or brittle Crust: which are easily bruised and broken to peeces. 1700 Moxon's Mech. Exercises: Bricklayers-wks. 16 Pulling the Building to pieces after it is begun. 1740 S. Richardson Pamela I. 144 She has huffed poor Mr. Williams all to-pieces. 1815 A. Plumptre tr. H. Lichtenstein Trav. S. Afr. (1930) II. 82 Every sort of vegetable which, like cabbage, spinage or sorrel, is cut to pieces and dressed with Cayenne pepper. 1880 M. E. Braddon Just as I Am xix We should tumble to pieces without you. 1923 H. Crane Let. 21 July (1965) 140 The center of such pain as would tear me to pieces to tell you about. 1993 R. Lowe & W. Shaw Travellers 46 The trailer just fell off the back of the truck that was towing it and got smashed to pieces. b. to take to pieces. (a) To separate (a thing) into constituent parts, to dismantle (literal and figurative); to reduce to ruin or disarray. ΚΠ 1622 H. Peacham Compl. Gentleman ix. 76 (note) This Heauen was carried by 12. men before Solyman, and taken to peeces and set vp againe by the maker. 1651 S. Sheppard Epigrams iii. xxix. 55 And scorn'st to have those judge thy poesie..Who take the lines to pieces that they read. 1700 W. Congreve Way of World i. i. 6 She once us'd me with that Insolence, that in Revenge I took her to pieces. 1791 Times 6 Aug. 2/4 To remedy this almost unfelt inconvenience, you would take to pieces a finely planned and ably directed movement. 1820 W. Scoresby Acct. Arctic Regions I. 207 (note) Empty casks are..taken to pieces, and the staves closely packed up in a cylindrical form. 1860 R. W. Emerson Beauty in Conduct of Life (London ed.) 248 Chemistry takes to pieces, but it does not construct. 1910 Times 10 Oct. 10/1 In other words the British Constitution is to be taken to pieces. 1993 Rugby World & Post May 28/2 Ask the Australians what they thought of him after they were beaten here in November. Robert took them to pieces that afternoon. (b) To be designed to be taken apart and reassembled; to be able to be dismantled. ΚΠ 1724 R. Bradley Gen. Treat. Husbandry & Gardening III. 64 I contrived the Raising of Fruits of all Kinds, in Cases or Boxes, that might take to pieces at Pleasure. 1765 Gentleman's Mag. Dec. 557/1 The whole machine takes to pieces at different joints. 1825 M. Edgeworth Harry & Lucy Concluded III. 178 Harry had long ago learned the principles of roofing, from a little model which his father had made for him. It took to pieces, and could be put together again. 1881 W. W. Greener Gun & its Devel. 78 Guns..so constructed as to take to pieces and stow away in a small compass. 1921 Mod. Poultry Keeping 14 Sept. 211/1 It is just as easy to make a run which takes to pieces, as a permanent one. 1999 M. Milne No Telephone to Heaven v. 180 I checked our baggage and found Jackie's high chair missing. It..had been made by the Awka Guild and was a very successful piece of work. It took to pieces for travelling. c. to go (also be, come) (all) to pieces: (a) to break up, fall apart, lose cohesion; (b) figurative (colloquial), to fall into confusion or disarray; to become so distracted as to be unable to behave normally. ΚΠ 1622 T. Dekker & P. Massinger Virgin Martir ii. sig. F The smocke of her charity is now all to peeces. 1667 S. Pepys Diary 29 Aug. (1974) VIII. 406 The Court is at this day all to pieces, every man of a faction of one sort or another. 1725 N. Uring Relation Late Intended Settlement Islands St. Lucia & St. Vincent 111 The Casks very often came to Pieces in getting up to the Store-Houses. 1776 Ann. Reg. 1775 185/1 The Abby,..having lately gone to pieces on the Stags near Kenrule..the captain, mate, and two common men..were cast upon the lower stags. 1832 F. A. Kemble Jrnl. in Rec. of Girlhood (1878) III. 215 I thought I should have come to pieces in his hands, as the housemaids say of what they break. 1892 ‘M. Twain’ Amer. Claimant xvii. 173 The hackman will just go all to pieces when he sees that. 1957 A. MacNab Bulls of Iberia ii. 26 Once a grand herd under the old Duke, now gone all to pieces. 2001 Times 27 Feb. i. 36/8 McGarrell was dropped next ball by Vikram Solanki at slip and England went to pieces. d. to fall to pieces: (a) to break up, come apart, disintegrate; also figurative; (b) colloquial (now Australian), to give birth. ΚΠ 1623 G. Markham Countrey Contentments i. 204 If..you should take vp the wooden mat, it woild presently crack and fall to peeces. 1665 R. Hooke Micrographia 133 The casual slipping out of a Pin had made several parts of his Clock fall to pieces. 1703 T. D'Urfey Old Mode & New i. i. 14 She has all the Symptoms of Maturity that are possible, and burn me like a Toast, if I did not rise three times thinking she would fall to pieces last night. 1750 P. Shaw Reflector iii. 291 The Athenian State was still subject to the same Weaknesses as before; and fell to Pieces even in the Life-time of its Founder. 1802 W. Paley Nat. Theol. xix. 355 The..chrysalis..also, in its turn, dies; its dead and brittle husk falls to pieces. 1881 S. Evans Evans's Leicestershire Words (new ed.) 212 Anybody can say what's the matter wi' yew wi' 'af a oy. Ye'r a-gooin' to fall to paces. 1941 S. J. Baker Pop. Dict. Austral. Slang 28 Fall to pieces,..to undergo confinement, to give birth to a child. 1990 Illustr. London News Summer 70/3 The lower parts of two sarcophagi were found to be broken and the mummies they contained had fallen to pieces. e. (all) to pieces: to a great degree, completely, through and through. Now colloquial. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > wholeness > completeness > completely [phrase] > thoroughly > from beginning to end or through and through to the boneOE through and throughc1225 out and outc1300 from top to tail1303 out and inc1390 (from) head to heel (also heels)c1400 (from) head to foot (also feet)c1425 from top to (into, unto) toec1425 to the skin1526 to one's (also the) finger (also fingers') ends1530 from first to last1536 up and down1542 whole out1562 to the pith1587 to the back1594 from A to (also until) Z1612 from clew to earing1627 from top to bottom1666 back and edge1673 all hollow1762 (all) to pieces1788 from A to Za1821 to one's (also the) fingertips1825 to one's fingernails1851 from tip to toe1853 down to the ground1859 to the backbone1864 right the way1867 pur sang1893 from the ground up1895 in and out1895 from soda (card) to hock1902 1788 ‘P. Pindar’ Proœmium in Wks. 366 'Tis most extraordinary then, all this is—It beats Pinetti's conjuring all to pieces. 1840 C. F. Hoffman Greyslaer I. i. x. 114 I know the ground here all to pieces. 1892 W. G. Lyttle Ballycuddy 79 She wud a pleesed ye a' tae pieces, an' wud a been charmed tae a haen a minister fur a son-in-law. 1925 Dial. Notes 5 325 I knows un all to pieces. 1958 L. Uris Exodus iii. iii. 351 Ari! I love you to pieces! 1989 B. A. Mason Love Life 123 I just love him to pieces. P3. a piece n. (for) each object or individual unit of a group, set, or class; each. Frequently used adverbially, esp. in stating the unit price, weight, etc., of something. Also occasionally the piece, each piece, every piece, per piece. Formerly also (Scottish): † ilk piece (obsolete). See also apiece adv.In Scotland and northern England sometimes used of people as well as things. Cf. French la pièce. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > individual [phrase] > individually or separately > each piece a piece1418 1418 Inquisition Misc. (P.R.O.: C 145/296/10) m. 3 xxx basenettes prec. le pece vj s. viij d. c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) 5474 Lamprays of weȝt twa hundreth pond ay a pece. 1480 Table Prouffytable Lernynge (Caxton) (1964) 44 The good candelmaker Gyueth foure talow candellis For one peny the pece [Fr. le piece]. 1531 W. Tyndale Answere Mores Dialoge f. xxx^v Y^e pope..sett vppe in Rome a stues of .xx. or .xxx. thousand hores, takynge of every pece tribute yerly. 1553 in J. H. Burton Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1877) 1st Ser. I. 150 Thai had payit ane grott for the heid off ilk peax [of cattle] for thair poindlaw. 1600 J. Pory tr. J. Leo Africanus Geogr. Hist. Afr. vii. 289 Horses..sold againe for fortie and sometimes for fiftie ducates a piece. c1650 J. Spalding Memorialls Trubles Scotl. & Eng. (1850) I. 81 The bischopis had causit imprint thir bookis..and sould haue gottin fra ilk minister four pundis for the peice. 1697 J. Pollexfen Disc. Trade & Coyn sig. A5^v Fat Oxen were often sold at 6s. per piece. 1721 Session Bk. Rothesay (1931) 361 James Stewart as justice of peace fined them in ten pounds Scots the piece. 1797 J. Sinclair Statist. Acct. Scotl. XIX. 48 A fine of a cow the piece [sc. each person]. 1825 J. Neal Brother Jonathan I. 54 A ‘twig o' cider’ a piece. 1864 B. Taylor John Godfrey's Fortunes xxv. 328 There are scores of retail dry-goods merchants who would give fifty dollars a piece to have their establishments mentioned in a novel or a play. 1913 C. Murray Hamewith 57 Lang-leggit Time, but he was fleet When we'd a lass the piece. 1989 Daily Nation (Nairobi) 26 July 18/3 For a lorry load of hard core stone, two men earn Sh30 a piece. P4. piece of work n. a. A product of work; something produced or manufactured, esp. a work of art or literature. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > work > product of work > [noun] workeOE workingc1350 notea1400 piece of work1473 overage1474 workmanship1523 piece1604 opificec1616 jobbie1950 1473 in J. D. Marwick Extracts Rec. Burgh Edinb. (1869) I. 27 That all..that thinkis to be maisteris mak twa peis of wark sufficient belanging hattis-making. ?1544 J. Heywood Foure PP sig. C.ii Here is an eyetoth of the great Turke Whose eyes be on[es] sette on thys pece of worke May happely lese parte of his eye syght. 1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 941 The kings Chapell at Westminster,..one of the most excellent peeces of worke, wrought in stone, that is in Christendome. 1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet ii. ii. 305 What peece of worke is a man, how noble in reason, how infinit in faculties, in forme and moouing, how expresse and admirable. View more context for this quotation 1678 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. i. 12 You may have occasion sometimes to Braze..a piece of work. 1739 A. Hill in S. Richardson Corr. (1804) I. 36 I was so very a boy when I suffered that light piece of work to be published. 1803 T. Sheraton Cabinet Dict. 316 Tambour doors are often introduced, in small pieces of work, where no great strength or security is requisite. 1876 H. James Roderick Hudson iii. 114 Rowland went into Roderick's studio and found him sitting before an unfinished piece of work. 1915 V. Woolf Voy. Out xxiv. 387 She was indeed very proud that she had finished her book... Also she thought that it was a good piece of work. 1991 N.Y. Mag. 11 Mar. 110/1 Steven Keats stars in Jerry Sterner's thoroughly professional piece of work. b. A task, a difficult undertaking; (figurative) a commotion or fuss. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > duties > [noun] > piece of work or task workOE notec1400 turnc1480 piece of work1533 job1557 employment1579 task1597 spot of work1689 day job1798 number1928 the world > action or operation > undertaking > [noun] > an undertaking > thing(s) to be done > a (difficult) task workOE piece of work1533 job of work1557 tesh1596 task1597 stunt1880 aufgabe1902 dreich1984 the world > relative properties > order > disorder > confusion or disorder > commotion, disturbance, or disorder > [noun] > instance of viretotec1386 moving?a1439 reela1450 stir1487 songa1500 pirrie1536 hurly-burly1548 make-a-do1575 confusions1599 the hunt is upa1625 ruffle1642 fuss1701 fraction1721 fizza1734 dust1753 noration1773 steeriea1776 splorea1791 rook1808 piece of work1810 curfuffle1813 squall1813 rookerya1820 stushie1824 shindy1829 shine1832 hurroosh1836 fustle1839 upsetting1847 shinty1848 ructions1862 vex1862 houp-la1870 set-out1875 hoodoo1876 tingle-tangle1880 shemozzle1885 take-on1893 dust-up1897 hoo-ha1931 tra-la-la1933 gefuffle1943 tzimmes1945 kerfuffle1946 1533 N. Udall Floures for Latine Spekynge f. 129 Suarum rerum satagit. He hath ynough to do of his owne, or, he hath a busye piece of werke of his own to doo. 1594 R. Carew tr. J. Huarte Exam. Mens Wits viii. 103 It were an infinite peece of worke. 1619 Visct. Doncaster Let. in S. R. Gardiner Lett. Relations Eng. & Germany (1865) 1st Ser. 133 To perswade them to hearken to a treaty would prove a tough piece of worke. 1665 T. Manley tr. H. Grotius De Rebus Belgicis 520 A very difficult piece of Work..to quiet all the right side of the Rhine. 1715 tr. D. Gregory Elements Astron. I. iii. §39. 462 It would be a tedious piece of work to take out the two component parts with their Signs. 1762 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy V. vii. 44 We shall have a terrible piece of work of it in stubbing the ox-moor. 1810 Sporting Mag. 36 262 He kept jawing us, and making a piece of work all the time. 1843 C. Dickens Martin Chuzzlewit (1844) xxx. 355 What are you making all this piece of work for..? 1911 F. H. Burnett Secret Garden ix. 86 It was a serious piece of work to write to Dickon. 2003 Florida Times-Union (Nexis) 6 Apr. c19 ‘You would like to say you could do that every day, but it's quite a piece of work’, Russell said, referring to his team scoring 28 runs. c. colloquial (frequently derogatory). A person, esp. one notable for having a strong (usually unpleasant) character. Usually with modifying word; cf. nasty adj. 2c. ΘΚΠ the world > people > person > [noun] hadc900 lifesmaneOE maneOE world-maneOE ghostOE wyeOE lifeOE son of manOE wightc1175 soulc1180 earthmanc1225 foodc1225 person?c1225 creaturec1300 bodyc1325 beera1382 poppetc1390 flippera1400 wat1399 corsec1400 mortal?a1425 deadly?c1450 hec1450 personagec1485 wretcha1500 human1509 mundane1509 member1525 worma1556 homo1561 piece of flesh1567 sconce1567 squirrel?1567 fellow creature1572 Adamite1581 bloat herringa1586 earthling1593 mother's child1594 stuff1598 a piece of flesh1600 wagtail1607 bosom1608 fragment1609 boots1623 tick1631 worthy1649 earthlies1651 snap1653 pippin1665 being1666 personal1678 personality1678 sooterkin1680 party1686 worldling1687 human being1694 water-wagtail1694 noddle1705 human subject1712 piece of work1713 somebody1724 terrestrial1726 anybody1733 individual1742 character1773 cuss1775 jig1781 thingy1787 bod1788 curse1790 his nabs1790 article1796 Earthite1814 critter1815 potato1815 personeityc1816 nibs1821 somebody1826 tellurian1828 case1832 tangata1840 prawn1845 nigger1848 nut1856 Snooks1860 mug1865 outfit1867 to deliver the goods1870 hairpin1879 baby1880 possum1894 hot tamale1895 babe1900 jobbie1902 virile1903 cup of tea1908 skin1914 pisser1918 number1919 job1927 apple1928 mush1936 face1944 jong1956 naked ape1965 oke1970 punter1975 1713 in J. Cartwright et al. Rep. MSS Duke of Portland (1931) X. 298 I believe your Lordship will have nothing to do with him he being a whidling, dangerous, piece of work and not to be trusted. 1872 T. Hardy Under Greenwood Tree i. 180 There was a terrible whispering piece of work in the congregation, wasn't there, naibour Penny? 1908 K. McGaffey Sorrows of Show Girl 28 Say, that piece of work..on the end..is all to the berries, ain't she? 1936 ‘N. Blake’ Thou Shell of Death vii. 122 She..had been Fergus's mistress. She is a pretty grand piece of work. 1993 D. Irvin Behind Bench xix. 299 He was funny that way. He was a real piece of work. P5. a. piece by piece: one part after another in succession, little by little, gradually. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > part of whole > [phrase] > piecemeal by piecemealc1325 piece by piecea1500 piece and piecea1522 by lumps1576 in piecemeal1693 in piecemeals1715 (in or by) dribs and drabs1809 a1500 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun Oryg. Cron. Scotl. (Nero) viii. Prol. 21 And pesse be pesse ay for to wryte. 1587 G. Turberville Tragicall Tales f. 89^v Then willd he all the Ladies limmes..To be vptaken, peece by peece. 1629 F. Quarles Argalus & Parthenia iii. 142 Peece by peece, they dropt vpon the ground. 1674 C. Cotton tr. B. de Montluc Commentaries ii. 88 Whoever will break a Peace..let him..make all the noise at one clap; for if he go piece by piece, he is certain to lose either a leg or a wing. 1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 65 Had the calm Weather held, I should have brought away the whole Ship Piece by Piece. 1786 T. Jefferson Let. 25 Jan. in Papers (1954) IX. 218 They are too feeble to hold them till our population can be sufficiently advanced to gain it from them peice by peice [sic]. 1820 W. Scoresby Acct. Arctic Regions II. 175 Two men..then carried it [sc. blubber] piece by piece to a stage or platform erected by the side of the works. 1877 C. H. Spurgeon Serm. XXIII. 208 The great architect unrolls his drawings piece by piece. 1932 Extension Mag. Feb. 20/1 She was still smiling as she took the clothes out, piece by piece, and dropped them into the suds-filled washtub. 1994 E. L. Doctorow Waterworks 200 He was recomposing their lives piece by piece. †b. Scottish. piece and piece = piece by piece at Phrases 5a. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > part of whole > [phrase] > piecemeal by piecemealc1325 piece by piecea1500 piece and piecea1522 by lumps1576 in piecemeal1693 in piecemeals1715 (in or by) dribs and drabs1809 a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1959) vii. viii. 120 Syne peis and peys the flude boldnys so fast. 1597 A. Montgomerie Cherrie & Slae 258 I felt my hairt within my bosome melt, and peece and peece decay. 1604 King James VI & I Counterblaste to Tobacco sig. C4 No man likes strong headie drinke the first day..but by custome is piece and piece allured. 1681 S. Colvil Mock Poem ii. 22 Then piece and piece they dropt away, As ripe Plumbs in a rainy day. 1721 R. Wodrow Corr. (1843) II. 550 Piece and piece as your leisure allows, pray send me what hath been remarkable as to religion and learning this last year. 1768 A. Ross Fortunate Shepherdess 78 Sae piece an' piece they lift them as they dow, An' see't all ocean down into the how. P6. piece of one's mind n. an opinion, esp. a candid one; (in later use chiefly) a rebuke, criticism, or scolding. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > rebuke or reproof > [noun] > instance of admonishingc1350 reproofc1400 fliting1435 rebuke?a1439 snibc1450 reprehensiona1500 redargution1514 remorda1529 piece of one's mind1536 check1541 snuba1556 rebuking1561 boba1566 sneap1600 snipping1601 reprimand1636 repriment1652 rubber1699 slap1736 twinkation1748 rap1777 throughgoing1817 dressing-down1823 downset1824 hazing1829 snubbing1841 downsetting1842 raking1852 calling1855 talking toc1875 rousting1900 strafe1915 strafing1915 raspberry1919 rousing1923 bottle1938 reaming1944 ticking-off1950 serve1967 1536 J. Husee Let. 4 June in Lisle Papers (P.R.O.: SP 3/12) f. 70 Goodall is an honest man, to whom I haue shewed a piece of my mynde. 1572 Bp. Sandys in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1827) 2nd Ser. III. 24 Thus am I bolde to unfolde a peece of my mynde. 1668 J. Dryden Secret-love ii. iii. 15 I have told her a piece of my mind already. 1742 H. Fielding Joseph Andrews I. ii. iv. 160 I should have insisted to know a piece of her Mind, when I had carried matters so far. View more context for this quotation 1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield II. xii. 190 I never either loved you or liked you, and I don't care if I tell you now a piece of my mind. 1838 C. Dickens Let. ?25 Oct. (1965) I. 445 Kate boasts..of having told you ‘a piece of her mind’. 1861 Mrs. H. Wood East Lynne II. ii. xiii. 149 The justice was giving her a ‘piece of his mind’. 1914 W. Owen Let. 24 May (1967) 256 Now it is Wednes. and I have had with delight your news. I shall hope to have an important piece of your mind on Sunday. 1998 P. Jooste Dance with Poor Man's Daughter (1999) ii. 51 If I ever hear Gloria Daniels' name..I'll give the person who says it a piece of my mind. P7. in (also †of) one piece: consisting of a single element, part or body; undivided, uniform; (figurative) unharmed, undamaged, intact. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > wholeness > as a whole [phrase] > whole or intact in (also of) one piece1566 the world > relative properties > wholeness > as a whole [phrase] > in a single piece in (also of) one piece1566 at a lump1596 of a piece1607 in a lump1640 all of a lumpc1681 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Exod. xxxvii. 22 The knoppes & braunches..were all one pece of fyne beaten golde.] 1566 T. Blundeville Arte of Rydynge (rev. ed.) iii. xxviii. f. 78^v, in Fower Offices Horsemanshippe Whole portes ought to be rounde, and made all of one pece, and not broken, or ioyned together in the top. 1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie ii. xvi. 50 [An] obelisquie of coloured stone all of one peece 50. cubits high. c1626 H. Bisset Rolment Courtis (1922) II. 200 Germannis [made] the boit of ane pece. 1672 in Proc. Soc. Antiquaries Scotl. (1880) 14 329 Each steppe being of one peece. 1704 J. Harris Lexicon Technicum I Monopetalous Flowers..are..all of one piece. 1794 D. Steel Elements & Pract. Rigging & Seamanship I. 239 Buss, a Dutch fishing-vessel with three short masts, each in one piece. 1818 Times 17 Sept. 3/5 About 5 feet of the trunk, with roots sufficient to keep it firmly upright, all in one piece, is now standing in the midst of the quarry. 1885 Bible (R.V.) Exod. xxxvii. 8 Of one piece with the mercy-seat made he the cherubim at the two ends thereof. 1929 D. Hammett Dain Curse (1930) xiii. 141 I returned to the ravine..reaching the bottom all in one piece with nothing more serious the matter with me than torn fingers. 2004 Sunday Tribune (Nexis) 29 Feb. 8 A marvellous, long and slightly curved, forged metal tool, made in one piece. P8. a. of a piece: (a) consisting of a single part, mass, or body; (b) of one and the same kind or quality; uniform, consistent, in accordance. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > relationship > uniformity > [adjective] oneOE consimilec1400 suinga1425 even?c1425 agreeable1512 uniform1540 consemblable?1541 suant1547 constantc1550 just?1556 similar1563 similary1564 unvaried1570 uniformal1574 consimilar1577 homogeneana1601 homogeneal1603 homogene1607 invariable1607 of a piece1607 undistinguisheda1616 univocal1615 immutable1621 uniformable1632 solemn1639 homogeneous1646 consistent1651 pariformal1651 self-consistent1651 congeniousa1656 level1655 undiversificated1659 equal1663 of one make1674 invarieda1676 congenerous1683 undiversified1684 equable1693 solid1699 consisting1700 tranquil1794 unbranching1826 horizontal1842 sole1845 self-similar1847 homoeomeric1865 equiformal1883 monochrome1970 the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > in agreement or harmony (with) [phrase] in onea1400 according1523 in unison1604 of a piece1607 in concert1618 in consort1634 in tone1647 at unison1661 of a piece with1665 true1735 in suit with1797 in harmony1816 of a suit with1886 in tune1887 in key1919 tuned in1958 all-of-a-piece1960 the world > relative properties > wholeness > as a whole [phrase] > in a single piece in (also of) one piece1566 at a lump1596 of a piece1607 in a lump1640 all of a lumpc1681 1607 G. Chapman Bussy D'Ambois iii. i. 40 In thy valour th'art like other naturals, That haue strange gifts in nature, but no soule Diffus'd quite through, to make them of a peece. 1663 S. Butler Hudibras: First Pt. i. ii. 106 He and his Horse were of a piece. One Spirit did inform them both. 1700 J. Dryden Fables Pref. sig. Cij He writes not always of a piece; but sometimes mingles trivial Things, with those of greater Moment. 1792 H. H. Brackenridge Mod. Chivalry* I. iii. v. 81 I am for having all things of a piece; ignorant statesmen, ignorant philosophers, and ignorant ecclesiastics. 1812 M. Edgeworth Absentee vi, in Tales Fashionable Life VI. 26 After all, things were not of a piece; there was a disparity between the entertainment and the attendants. 1873 T. Hardy Pair of Blue Eyes III. xi. 209 Deception, dishonesty, everywhere; all the world's of a piece! 1992 Mind 101 54 Perhaps one only admits into the ontology those stray bits of matter which are of a piece. b. all of a piece: all in one; all of the same kind or quality. ΚΠ 1612 G. Chapman Widdowes Teares iv. sig. I O happy starres. And now pardon Ladie; me thinks these [kisses] are all of a peece. 1639 N. N. tr. J. Du Bosc Compl. Woman ii. 23 Those Nations who make their Doublet and Shirt all of a peece. 1726 J. Swift Gulliver I. i. ii. 40 One of them was covered, and seemed all of a piece. 1914 G. B. Shaw Misalliance 71 It's all of a piece here. The men effeminate, the women unsexed. 1956 A. Wilson Anglo-Saxon Attitudes ii. ii. 318 Goodness isn't all of a piece..any more than badness. 2000 J. Kent in A. Hastings et al. Oxf. Compan. Christian Thought 197/2 The evidence that suggested that the world as it was might not have been created by divine agency all of a piece and not very long ago. c. of a piece with: in accordance with; consistent or commensurate with. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > in agreement or harmony (with) [phrase] in onea1400 according1523 in unison1604 of a piece1607 in concert1618 in consort1634 in tone1647 at unison1661 of a piece with1665 true1735 in suit with1797 in harmony1816 of a suit with1886 in tune1887 in key1919 tuned in1958 all-of-a-piece1960 the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > [adjective] > specific with or to something accordable1386 convenientc1400 agreeablea1450 to be standing withc1487 consonanta1492 consowningc1503 correspondenta1533 quadrant1536 constant1574 suitablea1586 uniforma1586 congruous1599 responsible1600 consentaneous1621 sympathizinga1627 consistible1642 consistent1646 consentany1648 consonate1649 quadratea1657 consonous1660 consentient1661 of a piece with1665 symmetrious1667 unison1675 consisting1700 one with ——a1848 congruent1875 1665 R. Boyle Occas. Refl. iv. ii. sig. Aa6 None appear'd more of a piece with the Earth than he. 1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 256. ¶3 It is not of a Piece with the rest of his Character. 1742 H. Walpole Let. 30 June in Lett. to H. Mann (1833) I. 172 It was of a piece with her saying, ‘that Swift would have written better, if he had never written ludicrously’. 1811 J. Austen Sense & Sensibility I. xxi. 294 The jokes..raised a curiosity..which, though often impertinently expressed, was perfectly of a piece with her general inquisitiveness. View more context for this quotation 1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. ii. 233 All their proceedings were of a piece with this demand. 1916 J. Galsworthy Caravan (1925) 579 Mr. Bosengate looked at this peach with sorrow rather than disgust. The perfection of it was of a piece with all that had gone before this new and sudden feeling. 1990 N. Bissoondath Eve of Uncertain Tomorrows (1991) 71 It all seemed of a piece with his parents' acceptance of his newly acquired adulthood. P9. piece of flesh n. (also piece of flesh and blood) a living person, a human being. ΘΚΠ the world > people > person > [noun] hadc900 lifesmaneOE maneOE world-maneOE ghostOE wyeOE lifeOE son of manOE wightc1175 soulc1180 earthmanc1225 foodc1225 person?c1225 creaturec1300 bodyc1325 beera1382 poppetc1390 flippera1400 wat1399 corsec1400 mortal?a1425 deadly?c1450 hec1450 personagec1485 wretcha1500 human1509 mundane1509 member1525 worma1556 homo1561 piece of flesh1567 sconce1567 squirrel?1567 fellow creature1572 Adamite1581 bloat herringa1586 earthling1593 mother's child1594 stuff1598 a piece of flesh1600 wagtail1607 bosom1608 fragment1609 boots1623 tick1631 worthy1649 earthlies1651 snap1653 pippin1665 being1666 personal1678 personality1678 sooterkin1680 party1686 worldling1687 human being1694 water-wagtail1694 noddle1705 human subject1712 piece of work1713 somebody1724 terrestrial1726 anybody1733 individual1742 character1773 cuss1775 jig1781 thingy1787 bod1788 curse1790 his nabs1790 article1796 Earthite1814 critter1815 potato1815 personeityc1816 nibs1821 somebody1826 tellurian1828 case1832 tangata1840 prawn1845 nigger1848 nut1856 Snooks1860 mug1865 outfit1867 to deliver the goods1870 hairpin1879 baby1880 possum1894 hot tamale1895 babe1900 jobbie1902 virile1903 cup of tea1908 skin1914 pisser1918 number1919 job1927 apple1928 mush1936 face1944 jong1956 naked ape1965 oke1970 punter1975 1567 W. Painter Palace of Pleasure II. xxi. f. 149 Some other there be that fixe their mindes vpon yong men..louyng rather a piece of flesh with two eyes in his head, than an honest man well furnyshed wyth vertue. 1593 Tell-Trothes New-yeares Gift (1876) 30 Oh, she is a tall peece of flesh. a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) iv. ii. 128 Why should we be tender, To let an arrogant peece of flesh threat vs? View more context for this quotation 1675 C. Cotton Burlesque upon Burlesque 60 A sturdy piece of flesh, and proper, A merry Grig, and a true Toper. 1715 C. Johnson Country Lasses i. i. 9 Mine is the most beautiful Piece of Flesh and Blood. 1777 T. Benjamin Polit. & Relig. Conduct of Dissenters 49 All but ‘one daughter of godliness’, and a fine piece of flesh and blood she was. 1850 Ladies' Repository Aug. 252/1 That piece of flesh and blood, by which the majesty of the British empire is represented. 1894 Overland Monthly May 538/1 Shall the sword of justice forbear to strike because a little fairer piece of flesh and blood stands beneath? 1949 H. Croy Jesse James was my Neighbour xiv, in Maryville (Missouri) Daily Forum 15 July 6/6 The more Jesse talked to him, the more he became convinced he wanted nothing to do with such a miserable piece of flesh. 2001 Baltimore Sun (Nexis) 27 June 1 b I was the first piece of flesh and blood to get back to the old country since my parents immigrated. P10. a. by the piece: at a rate (of pay) of so much for each item produced, etc.; according to the amount done. Cf. piecework n. 1. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > working > [adverb] > at piecework by the piece1703 on (the) piece1879 1703 R. Neve City & Countrey Purchaser 23 These Posts are..made by the Piece, viz. 1d..per Post. 1776 A. Smith Inq. Wealth of Nations I. i. viii. 100 Workmen,..when they are liberally paid by the piece, are very apt to over-work themselves. View more context for this quotation 1807 R. Southey in J. W. Robberds Mem. W. Taylor (1843) II. 209 I think such work is good enough to be paid by the piece. 1859 J. M. Jephson & L. Reeve Narr. Walking Tour Brittany iii. 23 I could not ascertain whether they worked by the day or by the piece. 1935 Times 30 Sept. 22/5 The pace at which the work is done depends on the fillers. It is therefore the fillers who are paid by the piece. 2003 Seattle Times (Nexis) 3 Aug. g3 At first I was paid by the piece, but I worked pretty fast, so my pay was changed to minimum wage. b. on (the) piece: paid on the basis of piecework. Now rare. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > working > [adverb] > at piecework by the piece1703 on (the) piece1879 1879 Printing Trades Jrnl. No. 29. 40 An employer is not bound to provide constant work for a man on the piece. 1903 Stationer, Printer & Fancy Trades' Reg. 1 Aug. 364/2 At present linotype operators work on piece, that is to say, they are paid according to the work they do. 1911 Rep. Labour & Social Conditions in Germany (Tariff Reform League) III. 96 Those on ‘piece’ earn from 49s. to 58s. 9d. per week. All the men are on ‘piece’, and work 53 hours per week. P11. piece of goods n. colloquial (chiefly derogatory) (a) a person, usually a woman; (b) (in later use) a person who has an unpleasant character (cf. piece of work n. at Phrases 4). ΘΚΠ the world > people > person > woman > [noun] wifeeOE womaneOE womanOE queanOE brideOE viragoc1000 to wifeOE burdc1225 ladyc1225 carlinec1375 stotc1386 marec1387 pigsneyc1390 fellowa1393 piecec1400 femalea1425 goddessa1450 fairc1450 womankindc1450 fellowessa1500 femininea1513 tega1529 sister?1532 minikinc1540 wyec1540 placket1547 pig's eye1553 hen?1555 ware1558 pussy?a1560 jade1560 feme1566 gentlewoman1567 mort1567 pinnacea1568 jug1569 rowen1575 tarleather1575 mumps1576 skirt1578 piga1586 rib?1590 puppy1592 smock1592 maness1594 sloy1596 Madonna1602 moll1604 periwinkle1604 Partlet1607 rib of man1609 womanship?1609 modicum1611 Gypsy1612 petticoata1616 runniona1616 birda1627 lucky1629 she-man1640 her1646 lost rib1647 uptails1671 cow1696 tittup1696 cummer17.. wife1702 she-woman1703 person1704 molly1706 fusby1707 goody1708 riding hood1718 birdie1720 faggot1722 piece of goods1727 woman body1771 she-male1776 biddy1785 bitch1785 covess1789 gin1790 pintail1792 buer1807 femme1814 bibi1816 Judy1819 a bit (also bundle) of muslin1823 wifie1823 craft1829 shickster?1834 heifer1835 mot1837 tit1837 Sitt1838 strap1842 hay-bag1851 bint1855 popsy1855 tart1864 woman's woman1868 to deliver the goods1870 chapess1871 Dona1874 girl1878 ladykind1878 mivvy1881 dudess1883 dudette1883 dudine1883 tid1888 totty1890 tootsy1895 floozy1899 dame1902 jane1906 Tom1906 frail1908 bit of stuff1909 quim1909 babe1911 broad1914 muff1914 manhole1916 number1919 rossie1922 bit1923 man's woman1928 scupper1935 split1935 rye mort1936 totsy1938 leg1939 skinny1941 Richard1950 potato1957 scow1960 wimmin1975 womyn1975 womxn1991 1727 Coll. Misc. Lett. Mist's Weekly Jrnl. IV. xxx. 176 Then that reverend Matron, Mother N—, gets a fresh Piece of Goods in her Way.—And last, the Town gets a W—. 1733 C. Johnson Cælia iii. i. 26 They teaz'd me for a fresh Piece of Goods. 1794 W. Godwin Caleb Williams I. iii. 48 Such a ridiculous piece of goods as this outlandish, foreign-made Englishman. 1809 B. H. Malkin tr. A. R. Le Sage Adventures Gil Blas I. i. ii. 19 She seemed a pretty piece of goods enough. 1895 T. Pinnock Black Country Ann. in Eng. Dial. Dict. (1903) IV. 492/1 Her's a nice piece o' goods to be a skule guvness. 1922 J. Joyce Ulysses ii. iv. [Calypso] 64 A wild piece of goods. Her slim legs running up the staircase. 1955 Ld. Chancellor in Hansard Lords 8 Dec. 1241 I should ask the noble and learned Earl for his considered construction of the phrase ‘a nice piece of goods’. 2002 Ottawa Citizen (Nexis) 30 June c11 The man who was an unfaithful husband and, when drunk, a rather nasty piece of goods. P12. piece of resistance n. = pièce de résistance n. ΚΠ a1797 E. Burke Fourth Let. Peace Regicide Directory France in Writings & Speeches (1991) IX. 48 Our appetite demands a piece of resistance. 1858 T. J. Hogg Life Shelley I. 459 The good girl liked a piece of resistance, a solid tome. 1894 G. Du Maurier Trilby I. 239 The pieces of resistance and plum-pudding and mince-pies. 1924 Musical Times Mar. 220/2 The piece of resistance in the fiftieth lesson..is a Rhapsodie Originale, by F. Hurstmonceux. 2006 Las Vegas Rev.-Jrnl. (Nexis) 7 Nov. 8 e The piece of resistance is Lara Lanae Freeborn as the very experienced and very bitter Trisha. P13. piece of ass n. (also piece of tail, piece of skirt, piece of stuff) depreciative (chiefly North American slang) a woman, esp. one regarded as an object of sexual gratification; (hence in extended use) sexual relations, esp. of a casual nature. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual partner > [noun] > woman considered in sexual terms or as a sexual partner cunnya1593 watermilla1626 piece of ass1816 fuck1870 gash1914 assa1916 mama1916 bim1922 pigmeat1926 nookie1928 screw1937 poontang1945 poon1947 trim1955 a bit (or piece) of crumpet1959 leg1968 a1663 Viscount Falkland Mariage Night (1664) ii. 11 A Fair young Lady and Widow is A rich piece of Stuff Rumpled.] 1816 J. Wolcot Wks. Peter Pindar II. 342 Betty was not a bad piece of stuff. 1857 J. Holland Let. 14 May in N. L. Syrett Company he Keeps (2009) 75 I did get one of the nicest pieces of ass some day or two ago. 1922 Los Angeles Times 28 July iii. 3/6 The whole of this amazing crime revolves, as it were, round a piece of skirt? 1929 E. M. Dahlberg Bottom Dogs vii. 122 The prohibition kansanites who came over to the missouri side of the Caw to get their camels, saturdaynite booze, and a piece of tail. 1957 J. Braine Room at Top (1960) 227 There was no Joe Lampton, only a commercial traveller from Dufton having a jolly evening with a hot piece of stuff. 1978 J. Krantz Scruples ii. 21 He..thought she was a flaming, fabulous piece of ass. 2000 Managem. Today 31 May 23 Her manager referred to female staff as ‘hot totty’, ‘chicks’ and ‘pieces of skirt’. P14. to pick up the pieces: see to pick up 13 at pick v.¹ Phrasal verbs 1. P15. piece of cake n. colloquial something easy or pleasant. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > easiness > [noun] > that which is easy ball play?c1225 child's gamec1380 boys' play1538 walkover1861 picnic1870 pudding1884 cakewalk1886 pie1886 cinch1888 snipa1890 pushover1891 pinch1897 sitter1898 pipe1902 five-finger exercise1903 duck soup1912 pud1917 breeze1928 kid stuff1929 soda1930 piece of cake1936 doddle1937 snack1941 stroll1942 piece of piss1949 waltz1968 1936 O. Nash Primrose Path 172 Her picture's in the papers now, And life's a piece of cake. 1960 T. McLean Kings of Rugby 205 They took the field against Canterbury as if the match were ‘a piece of cake’. 2002 Evening News (Edinb.) (Nexis) 25 Oct. 23 Compared with some of his past exploits, the job is a piece of cake for Andrew. P16. piece of piss n. British, Australian, and New Zealand slang (originally R.A.F.) something very easily accomplished; = piece of cake n. at Phrases 15. ΚΠ 1949 E. Partridge Dict. Slang (ed. 3) Add. 1134/2 Piece of piss, a ‘piece of cake’... R.A.F.: 1940+. 1974 J. Anthoine in H. MacInnes Climb to Lost World (1976) x. 182 There was a real awkward bit; then the next twenty foot was a piece of piss and I thought: ‘Oh, great, we've cracked it.’ 1981 G. Johnston Fish Factory 84 I've got it all worked out and your part is a piece of piss. 1997 T3 Jan. 89/3 If you own the right gear, making dance music is a piece of piss. P17. piece of shit n. coarse slang (originally and chiefly U.S.) a worthless or despicable person or thing; also attributive. ΚΠ 1942 S. Bellow Lett. (2010) 27 The current issue of Story..was full of a coarse-grained piece of shit by WB himself, a fictional version of the life of Robert Burns. 1959 J. Kerouac Doctor Sax 39 If I ain't an old piece of shit but you look like a goddam fat ass old cow tonight Charlie. 1970 R. Thorp & R. Blake Music of their Laughter 183/1 It's that fucking M-16—at very close range, it's a piece of shit. 1987 Re: More Misinformation about Pot in alt.flame (Usenet newsgroup) 31 Oct. What a stupid piece of shit reasoning. 2002 N. Walker Blackbox (2003) 98 ‘I'm sure it'll work out soon.’ ‘You piece of shit.’ ‘Stop calling me that.’ Compounds piece bag n. U.S. a bag for holding pieces of cloth. ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture textile fabric or that which consists of > manufacture of textile fabric > treating or processing textile fabric > [noun] > bag or box for pieces of cloth ragbag1820 piece bag1863 piece box1872 snip-bag1880 1863 L. M. Alcott Jrnl. Nov. in E. D. Cheney L. M. Alcott (1889) vii. 148 I cleared out my piece-bags and dusted my books. 1900 E. A. Dix Deacon Bradbury 251 Mr. Bradbury..sought his wife, who was upstairs sorting over her piece-bag. 1954 Bridgeport (Connecticut) Sunday Post 7 Nov. a11/7 These by-products were sorted, tied in bundles and put into a ‘piece bag’. piece box n. (a) U.S. rare a box for holding pieces of cloth; (b) Scottish a box for holding a light meal or snack; a lunch box (cf. sense 18). ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture textile fabric or that which consists of > manufacture of textile fabric > treating or processing textile fabric > [noun] > bag or box for pieces of cloth ragbag1820 piece bag1863 piece box1872 snip-bag1880 1872 Scribner's Monthly Sept. 638/2 Cinderella's coach began in a pumpkin, and our gown shall graduate from the piece-box. 1928 J. Corrie Last Day 19 ‘Aweel’, said Jock, dumping his piece-box on the ‘pavement’. 1963 G. Snyder & N. S. Yost Time on my Hands (1986) xi. 118 That evening I brought out my piece box. † piece-bright adj. Obsolete bright in parts.Apparently an isolated use. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > light > intensity of light > [adjective] > in places piece-bright1877 1877 G. M. Hopkins Poems (1967) 67 This piece-bright paling shuts the spouse Christ home. piece compositor n. a compositor who is paid by the piece ( Phrases 7). ΚΠ 1872 in E. Howe London Compositor (1947) x. 284 It becomes a matter of the utmost difficulty for the piece compositor in many houses..to earn the means of decent subsistence. 1904 T. Mackellar in T. L. De Vinne Pract. Typogr.: Mod. Methods Bk. Composition viii. 329 It is expected..that the piece-compositor will distribute type taken from the closet. piece fractions n. Typography type used in setting fractions, cast in two parts, each being half the depth of the normal size of type (also called split fractions). ΚΠ 1900 T. L. De Vinne Pract. Typogr. 174 Piece fractions, or split fractions in two pieces, or on two bodies, are not proper parts of the font, and are sold in separate fonts at higher rates. 1970 R. K. Kent Lang. Journalism 102 Piece fractions, figures (each on its own body) half the depth of the size of type with which they are to be printed, with a horizontal or slant line over the denominator so they may be made up into fractions: also called split fractions. piece hall n. now chiefly historical an exchange or other building in which cloth is sold by the piece (sense 4a). ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > trading place > a centre of commerce > [noun] > place where merchants meet > for specific goods Coal Exchange1755 piece hall1776 Corn-Exchange1794 cloth-hall1836 1776 T. Fairfax Memoirs 24 The utility of the Piece-Hall, will..prove a great and permanent benefit, not only to the Proprietors, but also to the Merchant, Manufactor, Farmer, [etc.]. 1821 J. Nicholson Seige of Bradford 26 A public house the only piece-hall was, And one small table held the merchants' store. 1995 R. M. Cooper Literary Guide & Compan. to Northern Eng. ii. 139 Its centuries-old Piece Hall is the only surviving manufacturers' hall in Britain. piece-hand n. = piece compositor n. ΘΚΠ society > communication > printing > printer > [noun] > compositor > paid by the piece piece-hand1847 1847 in E. Howe London Compositor (1947) 186 We all along wished to procure for the piece-hands works which have hitherto been done by boys. 1947 E. Howe London Compositor 60 The piece-hand could reckon to earn more [than the establishment wage], by the exercise of both energy and skill. † piece-knife n. Obsolete rare a penknife incorporating a number of blades and other implements. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > equipment > cutting tool > knife > [noun] > other knives bollock knifec1400 paring knife1415 spudc1440 pricking-knifec1500 shaving-knife1530–1 by-knifec1570 heading knife1574 stock knife1582 drawing knife1583 bung-knife1592 weeding knife1598 drawing knife1610 heading knife1615 draw knife1679 dressing knife1683 redishing knife1688 mocotaugan1716 skinning knife1767 paper knife1789 draw shave1824 leaf-cutter1828 piece-knife1833 nut-pick1851 relic knife1854 butch1859 straw-knife1862 sportsman's companion1863 ulu1864 skinner1872 hacker1875 over-shave1875 stripping-knife1875 Stanley knife1878 flat-back1888 gauge-knife1888 tine-knife1888 plough1899 band-knife1926 X-Acto1943 shank1953 box cutter1955 ratchet knife1966 ratchet1975 1833 J. Holland Treat. Manuf. Metal II. 17 The piece-knives, or sportsmans' knives, as those complex articles containing saws, lancets, phlemes, gun-screw, punches, large and small blades, &c. used to be called. piece labour n. = piecework n. 1. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > work > [noun] > piecework task-work1486 piecework1549 setwork1720 job work1780 measured work1834 measure-work1852 great work1855 piece labour1859 1859 S. Smiles Life George Stephenson 310 Their tools and machinery were imperfect; they did not understand the economy of time and piece labor. 2003 Portland (Maine) Press Herald (Nexis) 19 June 8 b They do labeling, hang-tagging and stuff here, there's always a need for different kinds of piece labor. † piece looker n. Obsolete rare a person who inspects cloth woven in pieces (sense 4a). ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > one who sees > [noun] > of cloth piece looker1867 1867 Morning Star 28 Jan. J. Moloney, piece looker. piece man n. now rare a pieceworker. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to conditions > [noun] > employee > piece-worker tasker1621 pieceworker1757 piece man1815 piecemaker1839 1815 S. Ogden Thoughts 22–1 in I. Cohen Amer. Managem. & Brit. Labor iii. 69 The piece man is actively industrious at his work, and takes no note of time. 1912 Times 15 May 7/1 The abnormal places grievance is effectually disposed of by the concession of a minimum of 5s. 6d. plus allowances for hewers and other piecemen. † piece market n. Obsolete the commercial market for cloth sold by the piece (sense 4a). ΚΠ 1826 Adams Sentinel (Gettysburg, Pa.) 23 Aug. The woollen cloth market at Leeds and Huddersfield, and the piece market at Bradford, all continue in a state of extreme depression. 1883 Daily News 28 Sept. 2/7 The piece market is without material alteration. piecemaster n. now rare (a) a small-scale tradesman; (b) a foreman who organizes the distribution of piecework for an employer. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > worker > employer > [noun] > other specific employers piecemaster1747 nooi1850 ship-worker?1881 1747 R. Campbell London Tradesman xxxix. 144 These kind of Piece-Masters are paid according to the Work. 1837 W. B. Adams Eng. Pleasure Carriages 174 A class of small tradesmen called piece-masters, who work for a very small profit, getting up a single carriage at a time and selling it the moment it is made. 1849 H. Mayhew in Morning Chron. 9 Nov. 5/2 I get them from a person who gets them from the warehouse. These intermediate persons are called piece-masters. 1979 Hist. Educ. Q. 19 482 In Oldham..the new pacemakers of the cotton industry, the piecemasters and small spinners, assumed control. 1999 Human Resource Managem. Jrnl. (Nexis) 9 20–38 It was the piecemaster or contractor who set a pace which the rest had to follow. † piecemoney n. Obsolete money distributed in charity at a particular rate. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > grants and allowances > [noun] > allowance > distributed at so much a piece piecemoney1610 1610 Accts. St. John's Hosp., Canterbury (Canterbury Cathedral Archives: CCA-U13/5) Item payd in pesse mony xvijs. vjd. 1642 Accts. St. John's Hosp., Canterbury (Canterbury Cathedral Archives: CCA-U13/5) Payed to 38 brothers and sisters for peesmoney xixs. piece-mould n. Sculpture a mould which can be removed in pieces and then reassembled; (also) a mould consisting of separate pieces of metal, etc., fitted together upon the model. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > plastic art > modelling > [noun] > casting methods > mould mould1530 intaglio1825 print1847 piece-mould1867 mother mould1898 negative1911 waste mould1929 1867 Chambers's Information for People (new ed.) I. 335/1 This preparation is pressed into plaster piece-moulds, backed with paper, and then, when sufficiently set, removed to a drying room to harden. 1895 Daily News 20 June 6/3 A piece-mould is made upon the statue itself, and from this a hollow wax statue is cast. 1990 Antique Collector Oct. 60/1 A statue cast from the master's clay model or his original piece-mould. piece-patch n. (frequently attributive) a piece of material used as a patch; also figurative. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > materials > types of material generally > [noun] > patch of material for mending clouta700 patcha1382 piece?c1430 speckc1440 piece-patch1880 1639 J. Fletcher et al. Bloody Brother ii. i. sig. C4 This peece-patch friendship; This reard up reconcilement on a billow. 1786 H. Lemoine Kentish Curate I. 216 No tale in a tub here; no piece-patch wicker basket work in this beauty of holiness! 1880 L. S. Floyer Plain Hints Examiners Needlework 27 A straight stitch 6 or 8 threads deep on each piece-patch and material. 1963 in Jrnl. Amer. Folklore (1979) 92 275 (title) Piece-Patch Artistry. piece-patched adj. now rare patched up, decorated with patches; also figurative. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > amending > restoration > [adjective] > restored > in a makeshift manner > of friendship piece-patched1640 1640 J. Fletcher Trag. Rollo Duke of Normandy i. vi. 15 There is no manly wisdome nor no safety In leaning to this league, this peece patcht friendship. 1799 Gentleman's Mag. 69 446/1 These piece-patched walls. 2000 News & Rec. (Greensboro, N. Carolina) (Nexis) 19 June a1 Burlington Industries was touting..dyed denim, spray-painted denim and piece-patched denim. piece payment n. payment according to the amount produced, sold, etc. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > payment for labour or service > [noun] > of manual workers > pay according to specific system time payment1852 piece wage1866 piece payment1900 1900 Catholic World Sept. 788 Piece-payment and premiums already form a powerful incentive to diligence. 2003 Irish Times (Nexis) 19 May 5 The rates of pay of those surveyed ranged from ‘piece payments’ for fruit-pickers to between €1.25 and €2.50 an hour for forestry workers and €14 for a nurse. piece picker n. New Zealand = fleece-picker n. at fleece n. Compounds 2; cf. sense 1d. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > sheep-farming > sheep-shearing > [noun] > sheep-shearer > fleece-picker picker-up1611 fleece-picker1861 fleece-o1894 piece picker1899 1899 G. Jeffrey Princ. Australasian Woolclassing 51 The skirtings are thrown on the floor until the ‘Piece Pickers’ gather them up and sort them. 1989 N.Z. Eng. Newslet. iii. 27 Because of the variety of functions shedhands perform the names they are known by are also varied. For example..‘wool roller’, ‘piece picker’. piece price n. the amount paid for each item of piecework. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > monetary value > price > [noun] > other specific prices subscription price1676 mint price1758 standard1778 pool price1789 O.P.1810 stumpage1835 mint value1839 maximum price1841 piece price1865 street price1865 supply price1870 base price1876 hammer-price1900 doorbuster1917 off-price1933 reference price1943 1865 Sci. Amer. 25 Feb. 129/2 The work of both wet and dry printing is done by journeymen for what are technically termed ‘piece prices’—that is a given price per thousand sheets for the number of impressions printed. 1895 Westm. Gaz. 21 Mar. 2/2 The question which underlies all surface disputes is that of fixing piece-prices for the new machinery which is being introduced into the trade. 1983 J. Hinton Labour & Socialism iii. 56 The union..initially opposed the strike against cuts in piece prices that broke out in December 1890. piece stuff n. now rare lumber or timber in pieces. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > wood > wood in specific form > [noun] > timber in pieces felling1338 piece stuff1876 1876 Oshkosh (Wisconsin) Daily Northwestern 4 Dec. Lumber Market... Common Boards and Planks..; Piece Stuff. 1881 Chicago Times 14 May The cargo..consisting of short length piece-stuff. 1953 Oshkosh (Wisconsin) Daily Northwestern 4 June . 8/5 The retail price of white pine piece stuff was $10 per thousand feet. piece trade n. now rare = piece market n. ΚΠ 1864 Times 15 July 10/2 There was a much quieter feeling in the piece trade. 1944 Times 17 Oct. 7/5 Considerable activity continues in the piece trade as result of the announcement last week of export market allocations. piece velvet n. now rare velvet made in pieces (sense 4a) rather than as narrow ribbons. ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric made from specific material > made from silk > [noun] > types of > velvet > types of silk velvet1530 refusado1598 French velvet1602 cut velvet1840 piece velvet1871 ring velvet1895 1871 W. D. Howells Their Wedding Journey in Atlantic Monthly Nov. 621/2 The piece-velvets and the linens smote her to the heart. 1919 Mansfield (Ohio) News 19 Apr. 17/2 (advt.) Small lot staple millinery, chiffon,..feathers, piece velvet, [etc.]. piece wage n. a wage paid for piecework. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > payment for labour or service > [noun] > of manual workers > pay according to specific system time payment1852 piece wage1866 piece payment1900 1866 Times 18 Oct. 12/2 I have an application from Berkshire at day wages of 11s. a week, and piece wages during the summer of from 13s. to 20s. a week. 1900 Fabian News Sept. 28/2 This ‘log’..is ‘a remarkable effort to adjust a piece-wage rate on a time-wage basis’. 2001 Business Econ. (Nexis) 1 Apr. 9 It was more efficient to employ workers on a salary base rather than pay them a piece wage. Derivatives ˈpieceless adj. rare without pieces. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > wholeness > [adjective] > united into a whole > without pieces or parts piecelessa1631 one-piece1880 monolithica1902 a1631 J. Donne Poems (1633) 110 In those poore types of God (round circles) so Religions tipes the peeclesse [1650 peecelesse] centers flow. 2002 Business World (Philippines) (Nexis) 7 Jan. 25 Your end-game technique will be superb, particularly in pawnless and pieceless endings. † piecely adv. Obsolete rare in pieces. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > separation or breaking up into constituent parts > [adverb] > into separate parts asundera1325 in sunderc1390 piecemeala1450 sundry1531 piecely1552 a-pieces1560 apart1608 1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Piecelye, or in pieces, concise, frustatim. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2006; most recently modified version published online June 2022). piecev. Brit. /piːs/, U.S. /pis/ Forms: see piece n. Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: piece n. Etymology: < piece n. Compare earlier piecing n., pieced adj. 1. a. transitive. To mend, make whole, or complete by adding a piece or pieces; to patch. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > industry > manufacturing processes > mending or repairing > [verb (transitive)] > with a patch clouta1375 vampethc1424 vampeyc1425 piece?c1430 patch1445 vamp1699 to piece up1884 ?c1430 (c1400) Rule St. Francis (Corpus Cambr.) in F. D. Matthew Eng. Wks. Wyclif (1880) 41 (MED) Þei may pese hem aȝen or cloute hem of sacchis & oþere pecis. Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 388 Pecyn, or set pecys to a thynge, or clowtyn, repecio,..sarcio. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 655/1 I pece a thyng, I sette on a pece... If it be broken it muste be peced, sil est rompu il le fault piecer. 1570 T. Tusser Hundreth Good Pointes Husbandry (new ed.) f. 33^v Good huswiues be mending and peecing their sackes. 1601 in J. Barmby Churchwardens' Accts. Pittington (1888) 135 For picing a bell clapper that brake when Andrew Hawkins was buried, xijd. 1676 V. Alsop Anti-Sozzo iii. §2 218 To piece the Lyons skin when it's too short. 1775 F. Burney Jrnl. 28 Feb. in Early Jrnls. & Lett. (1990) II. 70 She was peicing a blue & white Tissue with a large Patch of black silk! 1810 G. Crabbe Borough xviii. 249 That Floor, once Oak, now piec'd with Fir unplan'd. 1884 Harper's Mag. July 306 It's nothin' but play, piecin' quilts. 1979 P. O'Brian Fortune of War i. 9 A little clinker-built jolly-boat, patched and pieced until scarcely an original plank was to be seen. 2003 Quilter's Newslet. Mag. Jan. 42/2 She pieced and tied crazy quilts of denim and heavy woolens cut from worn clothing. †b. transitive. figurative. Obsolete. ΚΠ 1580 T. Churchyard Pleasaunte Laborinth: Churchyardes Chance f. 25 Beleeue no othes nor promes patcht, and peeced with desaite. a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) i. v. 44 I will peece Her opulent Throne, with Kingdomes. View more context for this quotation 1659 T. Fuller Best Name on Earth & Other Sermons 23 This may seeme to argue the law of God..needs to be patcht and peeced with the accession of humane deliberation. 1761 G. Colman Jealous Wife v. 100 Now I recollect, the Letter itself was pieced with Scraps of French. 1823 W. Scott St. Ronan's Well II. xii. 218 What would you give for such an opportunity of piecing your fortunes by marriage? 2. a. transitive. To join or put together to form one piece; to mend by joining pieces. Also intransitive (Spinning): to join broken threads, to work as a piecer (now historical). ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > fact or action of being joined or joining > join (together) [verb (transitive)] gatherc725 fayOE samc1000 join1297 conjoinc1374 enjoinc1384 assemble1393 compound1393 sociea1398 annex?c1400 ferec1400 marrowc1400 combinec1440 annectc1450 piece?c1475 combind1477 conjunge1547 associate1578 knit1578 sinew1592 splinter1597 patch1604 accouple1605 interjoina1616 withjoina1627 league1645 contignate1651 to bring on1691 splice1803 pan1884 suture1886 the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture of thread or yarn > [verb (intransitive)] > join piece1819 ?c1475 Catholicon Anglicum (BL Add. 15562) f. 93^v To pece, assuere. 1559 in T. Wright Churchwardens' Accts. Ludlow (1869) 90 Payd for a rope to pysse the lyttelle belle rope. 1638 J. Suckling Aglaura v. 36 There is no piecing Tulips to their stalks, When they are once divorc'd by a rude hand. a1687 E. Waller Thyrsis, Galatea 41 Since the Sisters did so soon untwine So fair a thread, I'll strive to piece the line. 1793 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse (ed. 2) §138 I found the seamen..employed in piecing the ground cable, which..had again parted. 1819 Evid. from Rep. Comm. House of Lords ‘How do they get their breakfast and afternoon meal?’ ‘..When the machinery is moving, they eat it as they are piecing’. 1859 E. C. Gaskell Round the Sofa 35 I cannot piece the leg as the doctor can. 1925 Woman's World (Chicago) Apr. 29/4 It has a joining at the center back and if necessary it may be pieced again. 1992 C. McCarthy All Pretty Horses (1993) ii. 133 The board was pieced from blocks of circassian walnut and birdseye maple. b. transitive. figurative. To put together. Also reflexive: to join oneself unto, to, unite with. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > social relations > association, fellowship, or companionship > associate with [verb (reflexive)] join13.. fellowshipa1382 adjoin1533 to put together1556 piece1579 sort1579 mixture1582 troopa1592 consort1597 identify1718 associate1881 1579 W. Wilkinson Confut. Familye of Loue Ep. Ded. sig. iij^v To peece vnto themselues this their broken Religion. a1637 B. Jonson Magnetick Lady* iii. i. 14 in Wks. (1640) III Item. I heard they were out. Nee. But they are piec'd, and put together againe. 1656 P. Heylyn Surv. Estate France 214 She hath peeced her self to the strongest side of the State. 1710 H. Sachervell Speech made in Westminster 6 By Piecing broken Sentences, and Conjoining distant and Independent Passages. 1796 E. Burke Let. to Noble Lord (U.S. ed.) 27 Dreams..are apt to be ill pieced and incongruously put together. 1879 G. Meredith Egoist II. vi. 129 Piecing fragments of empty signification. 1916 B. Carman April Airs 40 Piecing the fragments of a fair design With reverent patience. 2002 San Antonio (Texas) Express-News (Nexis) 10 Oct. 1 b The court document, when pieced with other records, suggests a pattern. 3. intransitive. To unite, come together; to be in agreement or accordance. rare after 17th cent. (U.S. regional in later use). ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > agree/be in harmony/be congruous [verb (intransitive)] accord1340 cord1340 concordc1374 agree1447 to stand togetherc1449 rhyme?a1475 commonc1475 gree?a1513 correspond1529 consent1540 cotton1567 pan1572 reciprocate1574 concur1576 meet1579 suit1589 sorta1592 condog1592 square1592 fit1594 congrue1600 sympathize1601 symbolize1605 to go even1607 coherea1616 congreea1616 hita1616 piece1622 to fall in1626 harmonize1629 consist1638 comply1645 shadow1648 quare1651 atonea1657 symphonize1661 syncretize1675 chime1690 jibe1813 consone1873 the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being gathered together > gather together [verb (intransitive)] musterc1560 amass1572 accumulate1613 piece1622 rally1647 rendezvous1662 herd1704 collect1794 congest1859 mass1861 1622 F. Bacon Hist. Raigne Henry VII 23 It pieced better and followed more close and handsomely vpon the bruit of Plantagenet's escape. 1625 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) xxiv. 140 New Things peece not so well. 1636 Sir H. Wotton in Lismore Papers (1888) 2nd Ser. III. 260 Owre Schoole Annually breaketh vp two weekes before Whitsontyde and peeceth agayne a fortnight after. 1702 R. L'Estrange tr. Josephus Jewish Antiq. xvi. viii, in Wks. 452 Telling him..that things would Mend in time, and Friends piece again, if they could but come to..a Fair Understanding. 1931 Amer. Speech 7 20 Piece, agree, get on well, prosper. ‘Do your children piece today?’ Phrasal verbs With adverbs in specialized senses. to piece down Now rare. transitive. To increase the length or width of (a garment) by the insertion of a piece of material. Also intransitive. ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > tailoring or making clothes > tailor or make clothes [verb (transitive)] > alter to turn upa1586 tuck1626 to let out1791 fashionize1824 to piece down1863 to make down1877 to let down1890 to take up1902 the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > tailoring or making clothes > tailor or make clothes [verb (intransitive)] > carry out specific processes shape?c1225 face?1577 bushel1877 overtrim1893 to piece down1903 pin-fit1926 1863 Harper's Mag. June 67/1 It had been pieced down and tucked for this occasion. 1903 K. D. Wiggin Rebecca Sunnybrook Farm xvii. 176 The limit of letting down and piecing down was reached. 1913 Indianapolis Star 7 Feb. 9/3 The waistcoat..could not be pieced down to the exact length that fashion has decreed. to piece in †1. intransitive. To join or fit in (with). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > behaviour > adaptability to circumstances > adapt to circumstances [verb (intransitive)] temporize1555 accommodate1597 localizea1631 to piece in1636 attemper1807 trim1888 adapt1910 reorient1916 adjust1924 to trim one's sails to the wind1928 to roll with the punches1956 1636 S. Rogers Diary 30 Nov. (2004) 83 Fasting, and prayer, at Mr Harrisons my soule rejoices to be with the mourners in sion, that I may peice in with them. a1656 J. Hales Golden Remains (1673) i. 247 He that can comply, and peice in with all occasions, and make an easie forfeiture of his honesty. 1887 Littell's Living Age 21 May 501/1 Fragments of observation had not even begun to be pieced in one with the other, and so fitted, ill or well, into a whole. 2. transitive. To add by insertion. ΘΚΠ the world > space > place > placing or fact of being placed in (a) position > insertion or putting in > insert or put in [verb (transitive)] > add by insertion to work in?c1450 redact1570 to let in1575 to let into1596 enchase1611 to piece in1720 inlet1860 1720 D. Defoe Mem. Cavalier 187 The..Officers..pieced in some Troops with those Regiments. 1891 Manufacturer & Builder Mar. 59/1 The object of the inventors of this new fabric has been to secure a belting that should..avoid the necessity of piecing in belts of considerable width. 1912 T. Okey Introd. Art of Basket-making vii. 80 The butts of the waling being pieced in at the front. 2002 Denver Westword (Nexis) 1 Aug. (Culture/Art section) The airplane on the drive-in's screen is a separate photo that's been pieced in. to piece on †1. intransitive. To attach to something (as a corresponding piece). Frequently figurative. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > agree/be in harmony/be congruous [verb (intransitive)] > be compatible > fit in or on to piece on1826 1826 W. Hazlitt Plain Speaker xii. 340 As it is, they do not piece on to our ordinary existence, nor go to enrich our habitual reflections. 1849 H. Miller Foot-prints of Creator 48 The super-occipital bone..pieces on to the superior frontal. 1880 S. Lanier Let. 15 June in A. H. Starke Sidney Lanier (1933) xx. 397 It [sc. science] pieces on, perfectly, to those dreams which one has when one is a boy. 2. transitive. To add (another item of a similar kind). Usually with to. ΚΠ 1869 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest III. xii. 218 It is so hard to fix the date of the event, or to piece it on in any way to the undoubted facts of the history, that [etc.]. 1886 St James's Gaz. 19 June 5/2 From time to time various inartistic additions of the true scholastic kind in simple brickwork were pieced on to the old fabric. 1939 B. Blanshard Nature of Thought II. xxvii. 309 More beliefs are pieced on, while the earlier ones remain as they were. 1983 Daily News Record (U.S.) (Nexis) 17 Jan. 2 The collection faltered when foulard pattern cotton or corduroy was pieced on to wool sweaters. to piece out Chiefly figurative. transitive. To enlarge or complete by the addition of a piece; to eke out or extend with extra pieces. ΘΚΠ the world > space > extension in space > expansion or enlargement > expand or enlarge [verb (transitive)] > by addition to piece out1589 imp1592 1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie ii. xiv. 104 Ye may note..how much better some bissillable becommeth to peece out an other longer foote then another word doth. 1639 T. Fuller Hist. Holy Warre iv. xxix. 221 Like a cordiall given to a dying man, which doth piece out his life. 1643 Sir T. Browne Religio Medici (authorized ed.) i. §18 He..pieces out the defect of one by the excess of the other. View more context for this quotation 1728 E. Young Love of Fame: Universal Passion (ed. 2) v. 436 The motion of her lips, and meaning eye, Piece out the idea her faint words deny. 1779 T. Baillie Solemn Appeal to Public p. iii/2 The pannels of the wainscot were shrunk, and must be eked or pieced out in many places. 1858 N. Hawthorne Jrnl. 18 Mar. in French & Ital. Notebks. (1980) iii. 135 The old Pons Æmilius..has only recently been pieced out by connecting a suspension-bridge with the old piers. 1882 Ballou's Monthly Mag. Aug. 174/1 Never mind, mother, I'll piece out the evening somehow, and it may be I shall have as pleasant a time as the rest of you. 1975 J. McPhee Survival of Bark Canoe 51 The sides of the canoe..have to be ‘pieced out’ with additional bark, which Henri now sews on with split roots. 1990 C. Holland Bear Flag (1992) xxix. 235 He sat at the table..trying to piece out what Sohrakoff had told him with what he himself had seen. to piece together Frequently figurative. transitive. To join together or make up (pieces) into a whole; to assemble from individual parts. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > creation > [verb (transitive)] > construct workOE dighta1175 to set upc1275 graitha1300 formc1300 pitchc1330 compoundc1374 to put togethera1387 performc1395 bigc1400 elementc1400 complexion1413 erect1417 framea1450 edifya1464 compose1481 construe1490 to lay together1530 perstruct1547 to piece together1572 condite1578 conflate1583 compile1590 to put together1591 to set together1603 draw1604 build1605 fabric1623 complicate1624 composit1640 constitute1646 compaginate1648 upa1658 complex1659 construct1663 structurate1664 structure1664 confect1677 to put up1699 rig1754 effect1791 structuralize1913 1572 T. Paynell tr. A. de Gaule Treasurie v. 130 A bowe that is broken, & peeced together agayne. 1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie iii. ix. 130 To peece many words together to make of them one entire, much more significatiue than the single word. 1619 E. M. Bolton tr. Florus Rom. Hist. 252 Himselfe..pieceth together no lesse an armie then the former mad-man. 1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot Trav. into Levant i. 134 Cut out of the natural Rock..though it seem to be of five Stones pieced together one upon another. 1726 J. Swift Gulliver II. iii. v. 73 The Professor showed me several Volumes in large Folio already collected, of broken Sentences, which he intended to piece together. 1766 Compl. Farmer at Surveying These sheets may be pieced together with mouth-glew. 1865 C. Merivale Hist. Romans under Empire (new ed.) VIII. lxiii. 65 Our account of his exploits..must be..pieced imperfectly together. 1930 A. P. Herbert Water Gipsies xxiii. 342 Mr. Bryan looked up from his work and saw her piecing the jagged fragments of canvas together. 2002 New Scientist 13 Apr. 23/4 John..has pieced together a picture of a 1.9 billion-year-old supercontinent from the scars of rifts in ancient rocks. to piece up 1. transitive. To repair or make up by joining pieces or parts; to join with other pieces or parts. Frequently figurative. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > amending > restoration > restore [verb (transitive)] > restore to state of wholeness or completeness > as by patching, etc. solderc1420 patch1532 plaster1546 to piece up1586 tinker1598 solder1607 society > occupation and work > industry > manufacturing processes > mending or repairing > [verb (transitive)] > with a patch clouta1375 vampethc1424 vampeyc1425 piece?c1430 patch1445 vamp1699 to piece up1884 1586 A. Day Eng. Secretorie i. sig. I1 Whilest there is yet but one craze..in the touchstone of thy reputation, peece it vp, and new flourish againe by..the square of thy workmanship. 1630 tr. G. Botero Relations Famous Kingdomes World (rev. ed.) 368 All being now piec't up betweene them. 1645 J. Howell Epistolæ Ho-elianæ iv. xx. 28 'Tis thought the French King will peece him up again with new recruits. 1701 E. Sherburne Phaedra & Hippolytus v. i. 206 I recount my slain Son's Limbs, and piece his Body up again. 1794 E. Burke Let. in Corr. (1844) IV. 213 They will of course endeavour to piece up their own broken connexions in England. 1884 Pall Mall Gaz. 20 Nov. 3/2 Arranging, disposing, and piecing up these fragments. 1896 J. K. Snowden Web of Old Weaver xviii. 203 I've gien her a chance to piece it up, mother. 1930 W. M. Mann Wild Animals in & out of Zoo xv. 192 The corral was not too strongly made at first, and he kept breaking through nearly as fast as we could piece it up. 2003 Atlanta Jrnl. & Constit. (Nexis) 2 Feb. 1 e I pieced up quilts with little mangled up pieces and I didn't know how to fix them. †2. intransitive. To come to an arrangement or resume a good relationship with someone. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > dissent > absence of dissension or peace > bringing about concord or peace > become at peace with each other [verb (intransitive)] saughtel1154 saughtenc1275 peasec1300 saughta1400 reconcilec1425 agree1447 to make peace1535 to fall in1546 to piece up1653 to kiss and be friends1657 to kiss and make up1657 to make it up1669 to make it up1722 conciliate1747 1653 Mercurius Politicus No. 153. 2454 If the Bourdelois thrive therein, then it is like we shall peece up with France. 1671 Ld. Conway Let. 20 June in M. H. Nicholson Conway Lett. (1992) 338 I am very glad you have pieced up with Francis. 1711 Ld. Shaftesbury Characteristicks vi. i. 208 The new: The old. Engage with one: piece up with t'other. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2006; most recently modified version published online June 2022). < n.c1230v.?c1430
随便看	rancels rances rancescent ranch ranch boarding ranch building ranch bungalow ranch company ranch country ranch dog ranch dormitory ranch dressing ranch egg ranch experience ranch girl ranch guitar ranch hand ranch hide ranch home ranch house ranch hut ranch job ranch land ranch life ranch mark

piecen.

Phrases

Compounds

Derivatives

piecev.

Phrasal verbs