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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 21, 2009 is:
pittance \PIT-unss\ noun
: a small portion, amount, or allowance; also : a meager wage or remuneration
Examples:
The children worked for a pittance at the factory in subhuman conditions.
Did you know?
It's a pity when you haven't anything but a pittance. And in fact, "pity" and "pittance" share etymological roots. The Middle English word "pittance" came from Anglo-French "pitance," meaning "pity" or "piety." Originally, a "pittance" was a gift or bequest to a religious community, or a small charitable gift. Ultimately, the word comes from the Latin "pietas," meaning "piety" or "compassion." Our words "pity" and "piety" come from "pietas" as well.
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