Dictionary entry

Piecemeal

Webster's Dictionary 1913

Piece″meal′ (?), adv. [OE. pecemele; pece a piece + AS. m�lum, dat. pl. of m�l part. See Meal a portion.] 1. In pieces; in parts or fragments. “On which it piecemeal brake.” Chapman.

The beasts will tear thee piecemeal. Tennyson.

2. Piece by piece; by little and little in succession.

Piecemeal they win, this acre first, than that. Pope.