Dictionary

mustard seed en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) A small, round seed of the mustard plant.
2. (countable, figuratively, uncountable) A small amount.
   • Start with a mustard seed of irrelevant fact. Rutherford Hayes’s wife, Lucy, was the first American president’s wife to be referred to as the first lady. 2013 February 7, Joy Williams, “The New Uncanny”, in The New York Times:
   • It was obvious to anybody with eyes and ears and a mustard seed of sense that Thomas had been chosen as a blunt instrument of Black oppression. 2022 August 8, Mitchell S. Jackson, “Looking for Clarence Thomas”, in Esquire:
3. (also, attributive, countable, uncountable) Small lead shot, usually of size No. 12, used for shooting birds and other animals at close range.
   • Being myself much given to the collection of birds for scientific purposes, a line of operation, requiring, in most cases, the finest shot that can be procured, I use mustard seed habitually, and have learned, incidentally as it were, its efficacy when directed against birds which, it might be thought, could not be brought down with it. 1873 November 22, Dr. Elliott Coues, U. S. A., “Use of Small Shot”, in The American Sportsman, volume 3, number 8, West Meriden, Conn., page 117:
   • Hmmmm... you suppose if you miss, you might blow a 1+1/2" hole anyway, with that rig? :) Even #9? 22rf shot (mustard seed) is supposed to be #12, not sure what that would do either. :/ 2007 June 6, alv...@example.com, “Re: the downside”, in rec.knives (Usenet):
   • “ […] Much as I hated to do it, while that sow was chasing after him, I let him have it in the stern with a light load of mustard-seed shot. That combination worked!” […] The mustard-seed shot he mentions are No. 12's and the load was extremely light. 1972 May, Robert Halverson, “Punishment …Or Reward?”, in Field & Stream, volume 77, number 1, page 223:

Forms

Synonyms

toddick · smidget · halfpennyworth · glimmer · drop · sliver · snake shot · jot · iota · molecule · scrap · scintilla · continental · grain · hint · sprinkling · spark · morsel · atom · crumb · morceau · hoot · dot · strain · dash · tinge · aught · trace · skosh · diddly · mite · thought · ooch · rat shot · skoosh · tittle · crumb · ace · whiff · soupçon · bit · modicum · smithereen · smidge · sprinkle · bit · vestige · flyspeck · mote · scantling · trifle · inch · smitch · scent · dusting · tad · smattering · pennyworth · eye of newt · tuppence worth · touch · skerrick · piece · particle · hooter · dust shot · damn · scruple · tidge · glimpse · semblance · dab · flip · spatter · glint · whit · scooch · smidgy · spot · smidgen · tidbit · lick · atomy · speck · speckle · bissel · ounce · pinch · fleck · shred · relish

Translations (35)

nl mosterdzaad (small, round seed of the mustard plant) · sv senapsfrö (small, round seed of the mustard plant) · it semi di senape (small, round seed of the mustard plant) · ta கடுகு (small, round seed of the mustard plant) · fi sinapinsiemen (small, round seed of the mustard plant) · sv senapskorn (small, round seed of the mustard plant) · ca llavors de mostassa (small, round seed of the mustard plant) · ru горчичное зерно (small, round seed of the mustard plant) · yi זענעפֿט־זוימען (small, round seed of the mustard plant) · es grano de mostaza (small, round seed of the mustard plant) · sl gorčično seme (small, round seed of the mustard plant) · de Senfsaat (small, round seed of the mustard plant) · yue 芥菜籽 (small, round seed of the mustard plant) · de Senfschrot (small, round seed of the mustard plant) · fr cosse de moutarde (small, round seed of the mustard plant) · sh seme slačice (small, round seed of the mustard plant) · da sennepsfrø (small, round seed of the mustard plant) · cmn 芥菜籽 (small, round seed of the mustard plant) · fi sinapinsiemenet (small, round seed of the mustard plant) · ro boabă de muștar (small, round seed of the mustard plant) · fr graine de moutarde (small, round seed of the mustard plant) · ja カラシナ (small, round seed of the mustard plant) · pdt Sampkuarn (small, round seed of the mustard plant) · pt semente de mostarda (small, round seed of the mustard plant) · hu mustármag (small, round seed of the mustard plant) · de Senfkorn (small, round seed of the mustard plant) · yi זענעפֿט־קערל (small, round seed of the mustard plant) · cs hořčičné semínko (small, round seed of the mustard plant) · cmn 芥菜種 /芥菜种 (small, round seed of the mustard plant) · ca grans de mostassa (small, round seed of the mustard plant) · bg синалено семе оцет (small, round seed of the mustard plant) · pl ziarno gorczyca (small, round seed of the mustard plant) · sh sjemenke gorušice (small, round seed of the mustard plant) · es semilla de mostaza (small, round seed of the mustard plant) · nb sennepsfrø (small, round seed of the mustard plant)