Definition of piecemeal

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< piece goods

piece of eight >

piece·meal    (psml) KEY 

ADVERB:

1. By a small amount at a time; in stages: articles acquired piecemeal.
2. In pieces; apart.

ADJECTIVE:

Accomplished or made in stages.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English pecemeale : pece, piece ; see piece + -mele, by a fixed measure (from Old English -mlum, at a time, from dative pl. of ml, appointed time; see m-² in Indo-European roots)