morsel meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

morsel

noun

UK /ˈmɔːsəl/ · US /ˈmɔɹsəl/

Etymology From Middle English morsel, from Old French morsel, from Medieval Latin morsellum (“a bit, a little piece”), diminutive of Latin morsum (“a bit”), neuter of morsus, perfect passive participle of mordeo (“to bite”). Compare French morceau, whence the English doublet morceau.

A small fragment or share of something, commonly applied to food.

By sticking out his tongue and curling it sideways to explore the hairy jungle around his mouth, he was always able to find a tasty morsel here and there to nibble on.1979, Roald Dahl, The Twits:
If a morsel of food fell off your plate, the advice of one contemporary document was to pick it up, make the sign of the cross over it, season it well - and then eat it.1999, Robert Lacey, Danny Danziger, The Year 1000: What life was like at the turn of The First Millennium, London: Abacus, published 2000, page 122:

A mouthful of food.

Me thinks I ſee the Turke nodding vvith his Turban, and telling me that I ſhould thanke Heaven for that diſtance vvhich is betvvixt us, els he vvould ſvvallovv me all up at one morſell; […]1644, James Howell, England’s Teares, for the Present Wars, […], London: […] Richard Heron, →OCLC, page 4:

A very small amount.

Didn't even a morsel of decency remain in his brother?2008, Pamela Griffin, New York Brides, Barbour Publishing, →ISBN, page 70:

Derived terms: morselization, morselize, Adam's morsel
Related terms: mordant, remorse

morsel

verb

To divide into small pieces.

Obsolete, Rare To feed with small pieces of food.