pittance

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
pittance/ˈpɪtns/

▶noun

• 1 a very small or inadequate amount of money.

• 2 historical a pious bequest to a religious house to provide extra food and wine at particular festivals or other occasions.

– origin ME: from OFr. pitance, from med. L. pitantia, from L. pietas ‘pity’.