jot
UK[dʒɒt]US[dʒɑːt]
v
To write something quickly or briefly.
n
A very small amount.
Etymology
The word 'jot' originates from the Greek letter 'iota' (ι), the smallest letter in the Greek alphabet. It entered Latin as 'iōta' and subsequently passed into Middle English, where its spelling evolved to 'jot'. This etymological journey directly informs its modern meanings: as a verb, it means to write down even the smallest detail (a single letter), and as a noun, it signifies an exceedingly tiny amount, metaphorically extending from the literal smallness of the letter itself. The term famously appears in the New Testament phrase "not one jot or one tittle shall pass from the law," further cementing its association with minute precision.
Analysis
The word 'jot' is a simplex loanword from Greek, entering English via Latin. It functions as a complete, unanalyzable unit in modern English spelling.
Examples
She quickly jotted down the phone number on a scrap of paper.
There isn't a jot of evidence to support his claim.
I don't care a jot about what they think.