Smidgeon
/ˈsmɪdʒ.ən/noun
A very small amount or tiny bit.
Did you know?Smidgeon is a variant of *smidgen*, and both likely arose as playful dialect words for “a very small quantity,” not from any ancient occult term.
Etymological Timeline
19th Century
English
smidgen / smidgeon
“a very small amount; a tiny bit”
19th Century
English
smidgin
“a small quantity; a little bit”
Origin uncertain
English
smidgeon
“a variant spelling and pronunciation of the same small-quantity word”
Possible earlier dialect source
English
smidg-
“a clipped or playful form used for something very small”