Word of the Day: April 18, 2009 ~ pittance

pittance (pit-ns) - noun

Pittance means "a small amount or share; a meager monetary allowance or wage."

First used in the written form around 1175–1225.  Middle English pitance, from Old French, which meant "an allowance of food to a monk or poor person."

The history of the word pittance is a sort of commentary upon the stinginess of human beings. Pittance should suggest generosity, as it was originally a "pious bequest" and traces its origin back to the Latin term pietas, which meant "piety."

In the Middle Ages those who could afford it would leave donations, upon their death, to various monastic orders. These pittances, as they were called, were supposed to be spent for food and wine that was served in these institutions on the anniversary of the donor's death. In return for this bounty, the inmates were expected to pray for the soul of the departed.  But the pittances left behind got smaller and smaller until a pittance began to mean a stingy and most meager amount of money indeed.

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