Piece"meal` (?), adv. [OE. pecemele; pece a piece + AS. m&?;lum, dat. pl. of m&?;l part. See Meal a portion.] 1. In pieces; in parts or fragments. "On which it piecemeal brake." Chapman.

The beasts will tear thee piecemeal.

2. Piece by piece; by little and little in succession.

Piecemeal they win, this acre first, than that.

Piece"meal`, a. Made up of parts or pieces; single; separate. "These piecemeal guilts." Gov. of Tongue.

Piece"meal`, n. A fragment; a scrap. R. Vaughan.

• piece by piece; in small amounts or degrees
  
• into pieces or parts
  
• made or done in pieces or one piece at a time