Mite, n.

n. [A-S. mite, D. mijt, L. Ger. mite, N. H. Ger. miete, Dan. mid, O. H. Ger. miza, mizza, M. H. Ger. mize, miza, L. Lat. & Sp. mitta, Fr. mite.]

1. Any thing very small; a minute object; a very little quantity or particle.
2. Hence, specifically, (a.) (Zoöl.) A minute spider, having jaws, which distinguish it from the ticks, and of which there are several varieties; as, the cheese-mite, Tyroglyphus (or Acarus) domesticus; the flour-mite, T. farinae, &c. (b.) A very small piece of money; especially, the smallest coin known to the Hebrews, being about one eighth of the Roman as, and a little more than one fourth of an English farthing, or less than two mills of our currency. Kitto. (c.) The twentieth part of a grain.