small adjective [comparative Smaller (sma̤l′ẽr); superlative Smallest.] [OE. small, AS. smael; akin to D. smal narrow, OS. & OHG. smal small, G. schmal narrow, Dan. & Sw. smal, Goth. smals small, Icel. smali small cattle, sheep, or goats; cf. Gr. μῆλον a sheep or goat.]

1. Having little size, compared with other things of the same kind; little in quantity or degree; diminutive; not large or extended in dimension; not great; not much; inconsiderable; as, a small man; a small river.

To compare
Great things with small. Milton.

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

3. Envincing little worth or ability; not large-minded; – sometimes, in reproach, paltry; mean.

A true delineation of the smallest man is capable of interesting the greatest man. Carlyle.

4. Not prolonged in duration; not extended in time; short; as, after a small space. Shak.

5. Weak; slender; fine; gentle; soft; not loud.

“A still, small voice.” 1 Kings xix. 12.

Great and small

of all ranks or degrees; – used especially of persons.
“His quests, great and small.” Chaucer.

Small arms

muskets, rifles, pistols, etc., in distinction from cannon.

Small beer

See under Beer.

Small coal

(a) Little coals of wood formerly used to light fires. Gay.

(b) Coal about the size of a hazelnut, separated from the coarser parts by screening.

Small craft (Naut.)

a vessel, or vessels in general, of a small size.

Small fruits

See under Fruit.

Small hand

a certain size of paper. See under Paper.

Small hours

See under Hour.

Small letter (Print.)

a lower-case letter. See Lower-case, and Capital letter, under Capital, adjective

Small piece

a Scotch coin worth about 2¼d. sterling, or about 4½cents.

Small register

See the Note under 1st Register, 7.

Small stuff (Naut.)

spun yarn, marline, and the smallest kinds of rope. R. H. Dana, Jr.

Small talk

light or trifling conversation; chitchat.

Small wares (Com.)

various small textile articles, as tapes, braid, tringe, and the like. M‘Culloch.

Small adverb

1. In or to small extent, quantity, or degree; little; slightly. [Obs.]

“I wept but small.” Chaucer.

“It small avails my mood.” Shak.

2. Not loudly; faintly; timidly. [Obs. or Humorous]

You may speak as small as you will. Shak.

Small noun

1. The small or slender part of a thing; as, the small of the leg or of the back.

2. pl. Smallclothes. [Colloq.] Hood. Dickens.

3. pl. Same as Little go. See under Little, adjective

Small transitive verb To make little or less. [Obs.]