mite

Meaning

Noun

• Any of many minute arachnids which, along with the ticks, comprise subclass Acarina (aka Acari).
• A small coin formerly circulated in England, rated at about a third of a farthing.
• A lepton, a small coin used in Palestine in the time of Christ.
• A small weight; one twentieth of a grain.
• Anything very small; a minute object; a very little quantity or particle.
• A small or naughty person, or one people take pity on; rascal.

Origin

• From Middle English mite, from Old English mīte, from Proto-Germanic *mītǭ, from *maitaną, from Proto-Indo-European *mey- or *meh₂y-. Akin to Old High German mīza, Middle Dutch mīte, Dutch mijt, Danish mide.