morsel

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, past participle of mordere (“to bite”). Compare French morceau.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈmɔːsəl/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈmɔɹsəl/

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• Rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ)səl

morsel (plural morsels)

1. A small fragment or share of something, commonly applied to food.
2. A mouthful of food.
3. A very small amount.
   • 2008, Pamela Griffin, New York Brides, Barbour Publishing Inc. (2008), →ISBN, page 70:

     Didn't even a morsel of decency remain in his brother?

• See also Thesaurus:modicum.

• morselize, morselization

• morsel in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• morsel in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• “morsel” (US) / “morsel” (UK) in Oxford Dictionaries, Oxford University Press.
• “morsel” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary, 2001–2019.

• Merlos, Morels, morels

• morcel

From Medieval Latin morsellum (“a bit, a little piece”), diminutive of Latin morsum (“a bit”), neuter of morsus, past participle of mordeō, mordēre (“bite, nibble, gnaw”), from Proto-Indo-European *merə- (“to rub, wipe; to pack, rob”).

• IPA^(key): /mɔr.ˈsɛl/

morsel m (oblique plural morseaus or morseax or morsiaus or morsiax or morsels, nominative singular morseaus or morseax or morsiaus or morsiax or morsels, nominative plural morsel)

1. morsel; bit; piece

• English: morsel
• French: morceau
• Norman: morcé (Jersey, Guernsey)