Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Fritter"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Fritter \Frit"ter\, n. [OR. fritour, friture, pancake, F.
friture frying, a thing fried, from frire to fry. See {Far},
v. t.]
1. A small quantity of batter, fried in boiling lard or in a
frying pan. Fritters are of various kinds, named from the
substance inclosed in the batter; as, apple fritters, clam
fritters, oyster fritters.
2. A fragment; a shred; a small piece.
And cut whole giants into fritters. --Hudibras.
{Corn fritter}. See under {Corn}.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Fritter \Frit"ter\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Frittered}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Frittering}.]
1. To cut, as meat, into small pieces, for frying.
2. 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.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
fritter
n : small quantity of fried batter containing fruit or meat or
vegetables
v : spend frivolously and unwisely; "Fritter away one's
inheritance" [syn: {frivol away}, {dissipate}, {shoot}, {fritter
away}, {fool}, {fool away}]
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