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noun Stuff n. 1.Material which is to be worked up in any process of manufacture. "For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much." "Ambitions should be made of sterner stuff." "The workman on his stuff his skill doth show, And yet the stuff gives not the man his skill." 2.The fundamental material of which anything is made up; elemental part; essence. "Yet do I hold it very stuff o' the conscience To do no contrived murder." 3.Woven material not made into garments; fabric of any kind; specifically, any one of various fabrics of wool or worsted; sometimes, worsted fiber. "What stuff wilt have a kirtle of?" "It (the arras) was of stuff and silk mixed, though, superior kinds were of silk exclusively." 4.Furniture; goods; domestic vessels or utensils. "He took away locks, and gave away the king's stuff." 5.A medicine or mixture; a potion. 6.Refuse or worthless matter; hence, also, foolish or irrational language; nonsense; trash. "Anger would indite Such woeful stuff as I or Shadwell write." 7.(Naut.) A melted mass of turpentine, tallow, etc., with which the masts, sides, and bottom of a ship are smeared for lubrication. 8.Paper stock ground ready for use. Note: When partly ground, called half stuff. Clear stuff. See under Clear. Small stuff (Naut.), all kinds of small cordage. Stuff gown, the distinctive garb of a junior barrister; hence, a junior barrister himself. See Silk gown, under Silk.
adjective Small adj. (compar. smaller; superl. smallest) 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." 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." 4.Not prolonged in duration; not extended in time; short; as, after a small space. 5.Weak; slender; fine; gentle; soft; not loud. "A still, small voice." Great and small,of all ranks or degrees; used especially of persons. "His quests, great and small." 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. (b)Coal about the size of a hazelnut, separated from the coarser parts by screening. Small craft (Naut.), a vessel, or vessels in general, of a small size. Small fruits. See under Fruit. Small hand, a certain size of paper. See under Paper. Small hours. See under Hour. Small letter. (Print.), a lower-case letter. See Lower-case, and Capital letter, under Capital, a. Small piece, a Scotch coin worth about 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. Small talk, light or trifling conversation; chitchat. Small wares (Com.), various small textile articles, as tapes, braid, tringe, and the like.
Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48
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