piece
A stretch of road with no mile markers, a little bit of something, or (sometimes) a gun.
Also called a fur piece, a little piece.
Updated September 24, 2026
piece pronunciation
/PEES/
Meaning
In Appalachian and Southern talk, a piece often means an indefinite distance: down the road a piece, a little piece, a fur piece if it's far. It can also mean a small helping or portion, like a piece of cornbread. And in rougher talk, a piece is a firearm. DARE marks the distance sense chiefly South and Midland.
How folks use it
- “Store's just a piece down the road past the church.”
- “Give me a little piece of that pie before it's gone.”
Origin and etymology
From older English piece meaning a portion or part. Scots and northern English used it for a stretch of distance; that sense stuck in Southern and Midland American speech. The gun meaning is wider American slang that also shows up in rural talk. How far "a piece" is depends on whether you're walking or driving.
Frequently asked questions
How far is a piece?
Nobody agrees. A walked piece is shorter than a driven one. Ask for a landmark if you need a real answer.