adv. Forms: 4–6 a pece, 6 apece, apesse, 6–7 a peece, a-peece, apeece, 7 a peice, 6– a piece, a-piece, apiece. [orig. two words, a piece, as to reckon coins, pottery, cloth, etc., at so much a piece; but soon extended to objects of any collection, or individuals of a company; so that no consciousness of the connection with piece is ordinarily retained.]

1

  For each piece, article, thing or (colloq.) person; each, for each, to each; severally, individually.

2

[1465.  Mann. & Househ. Exp., 476. The prise of a pece, vii.s.

3

1556.  Chr. Gr. Fr., 47. A new qwyne of sylver, of xijd apece.]

4

c. 1430.  Bk. Curtasye, 376. Ffor cariage þe porter hors schall hyre, ffoure pens a pece.

5

1526.  Tindale, John ii. 6. Six water-pottes of stone … contaynynge two or thre fyrkins a pece. [1611 apiece].

6

1595.  Sir J. Gilbert, Lett., in N. & Q., Ser. III. V. 109. Too other greate shyppes … off 600 tones apesse.

7

1611.  Bible, Luke ix. 3. Neither haue two coates apeece.

8

1728.  Newton, Chronol. Amended, i. 52. Kings reign, one with another, about eighteen or twenty years a-piece.

9

1836.  Car. Fox, Jrnls. (1882), I. 18. She promised her and Leonora a Cashmere shawl apiece.

10