mīca, ae, f. [root smic-; Gr. σμικρός, μικρός; cf. micula; O. Germ. smahan, to belittle], a crumb, little bit, morsel, grain (poet. and in post-Aug. prose).
- I. Lit.: mica panis, Petr. 42: auri, Lucr. 1, 839: marmoris, Plin. 33, 4, 21, § 68: salis, a grain of salt, id. 22, 14, 16, § 37: amomi, id. 12, 18, 41, § 83: saliens (i. e. salis) mica, Hor. C. 3, 23, 12: tus in micas friatur, Plin. 12, 14, 32, § 65: de micis puerorum, Vulg. Marc. 7, 28.
- II. Transf.
- A. A small diningroom, Mart. 2, 59, 1; Sen. Ep. 51, 12.
- B. In gen., a little bit, a grain: nulla in tam magno est corpore mica salis, a grain of sense, Cat. 86, 3.