spoonfuln.
/ˈspuːnfʊl/, U.S. /ˈspunˌfʊl/ a. As much as fills a spoon; such an amount as can be lifted in a spoon.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > measurement > the scientific measurement of volume > measure(s) of capacity > [noun] > specific liquid or dry units > spoon as unit
spoonfulc1290
cochleare1708
teaspoonful1732
tablespoonful1755
tea-spoon1791
tablespoon1805
tbs.1950
tsp.1950
α.
β. 1527 L. Andrewe tr. H. Brunschwig Vertuose Boke Distyllacyon sig. Dj Dronke of the same water foure spones full at nyght is good agaynste the hote cowgh.1599 A. M. tr. O. Gaebelkhover Bk. Physicke 145/2 Administre of this water thre spoonesfulle.1863 H. W. Bates Naturalist on River Amazons I. v. 200 We had brought with us a bag of farinha..and a few spoonsful of salt.1897 ‘Ouida’ Massarenes xiii Two spoonsful of Cognac in it.c1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 193 He nadde nouȝt a spone-ful ale.
c1380 in T. Wright & J. O. Halliwell Reliquiæ Antiquæ (1845) I. 52 Pouder of seede of lanett a sponfull, and of love-ache a sponfull.
a1425 tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula 75 Putte þerin a sponeful of comon salt.
a1505 R. Henryson Sum Pract. Med. 68 in Poems (1981) 181 Thre sponfull of the blak spyce.
1547 A. Borde Breuiary of Helthe i. f. lxxxv Drinke halfe a sponefull mornynge and euenynge.
1600 B. Jonson Every Man out of his Humor iv. i. sig. Lii How cleanely hee wipes his spoon at euery spoonfull of any whit-meat hee eats. View more context for this quotation
1625 Laws Stannaries (1808) iii. 17 A true note in writing..certifying the just number of pieces, slabs, or spoonfuls of tin above a pound weight.
1669 W. Simpson Hydrologia Chymica 328 It gives help..being taken to the quantity of three or four spoonfulls.
1738 Gentleman's Mag. Dec. 661/1 Sometimes a Spoonful, and sometimes but some few Drops.
1800 tr. E. J. B. Bouillon-Lagrange Man. Course Chem. I. 430 Throw this mixture by spoonfuls into a crucible.
1890 Hardwicke's Sci.-gossip 26 263 When a spoonful of food is dropped in, the water seems in a moment to be alive with fish.
b. transferred. A very small quantity or number.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > smallness of quantity, amount, or degree > [noun] > a small quantity or amount > a very small amount
shredc1000
farthingsworthc1325
pennyworthc1330
incha1350
sliverc1374
chipa1393
gnastc1440
Jack1530
spoonful1531
crumba1535
spark1548
slight1549
pin's worth1562
scruple1574
thought1581
pinch1583
scrap1583
splinter1609
ticket1634
notchet1637
indivisible1644
tinyc1650
twopence1691
turn of the scale(s)1706
enough to swear by1756
touch1786
scrimptiona1825
infinitesimal1840
smidgen1841
snuff1842
fluxion1846
smitchel1856
eyelash1860
smidge1866
tenpenceworth1896
whisker1913
tidge1986
1531 T. Elyot Bk. named Gouernour i. xv. sig. Hv If he haue a spone full of latine, he wyll shewe forth a hoggesheed without any lernyng.
1551 T. Wilson Rule of Reason sig. Tij One that hath but a sponfull of wit, maie answere to this question.
a1651 N. Culverwell Elegant Disc. Light of Nature (1652) i. xv. 156 Babes in intellectuals must take in..those spoonfuls of knowledge.
1894 Advance (Chicago) 9 Aug. Those who come [to a service] find only ‘a spoonful’ present, and no leader.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.c1290