Forms: α. 6–7 iote, (6 ioate, Sc. ioyt, ioit), 7 jote; β. 6–7 iot, (6 iott(e, 7 jott), 7– jot. [ad. L. iōta (read as jōta, cf. Sp. jota, Ger. jota and jot, jodt, jott), a. Gr. ἰῶτα name of the letter Ι, ι, the smallest in the alphabet; see IOTA, and cf. JOD. The 16th c. iote is shown by the metrical quots. to have been monosyllabic, i.e. = jōte.]
The least letter or written part of any writing: hence, generally, the very least or a very little part, point or amount; a whit. Often in the phrase jot or tittle: see quot. 1526 (Usually with negative expressed or implied.)
1526. Tindale, Matt. v. 18. One iott or one tytle [Wyclif oon. i. or titil] of the lawe shall not scape.
1538. Bale, God’s Promises, III. in Dodsley, O. Pl., I. I wyll not one iote, Lorde, from thy wyll dyssent.
1540–54. Croke, Ps., etc. (Percy Soc.), 48. There shall remayne of theym no iote.
1563. Homilies, II. Good Works, I. Not giltie of transgressing any iot of Gods law.
1570. B. Googe, Pop. Kingd., II. 19 b. And Ioseph ruled Egypt well, obseruing euery iotte Of Moyses lawe, and chastly kept his minde from any spotte.
a. 1572. Knox, Hist. Ref., Wks. 1846, I. 107. Yf, in any joyt, he sufferred the authoritie of the Pape to be violated.
1579. Fenton, Guicciard., XII. (1599), 578. Not breaking one ioate of their order.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., IV. i. 306. This bond doth giue thee heere no iot of bloud.
1652. Row, Lett., 27 May, in Hist. Kirk, App. iii. (Wodrow Soc.), 545. Befor I brake my word in a jote to you.
1657. Thornley, trans. Longus’ Daphnis & Chloe, 200. I swear … I will not lie a jott.
1768. H. Walpole, Hist. Doubts, 31. The Solomon that succeeded him was not a jot less a tyrant.
1868. G. Duff, Pol. Surv., 80. He seems never to have wavered or abated one jot of his claim to supreme rule on earth.
