What does "fritter" mean?

Fritter: A fragment; a shred; a small piece. And cut whole giants into fritters. Hudibras. Corn fritter. See under Corn.

Additional senses

  1. 2.To cut, as meat, into small pieces, for frying.
  2. 3.To break into small pieces or fragments. Break all nerves, and fritter all their sense. Pope. To fritter away, to diminish; to pare off; to reduce to nothing by taking away a little at a time; also, to waste piecemeal; as, to fritter away time, strength, credit, etc.

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