subs. (colloquial).—A very small quantity: cf. Fr. soupçon.

1

  1863.  HAWTHORNE, Our Old Home, ‘Near Oxford.’ A mere spice or SUSPICION of austerity, which made it all the more enjoyable.

2

  1867.  A. TROLLOPE, The Last Chronicle of Barset, xlix. He was engaged in brushing a SUSPICION of dust from his black gaiters.

3

  1886.  Daily Telegraph, 25 Sept. With just a SUSPICION of Irish brogue that only serves to increase the interest of her piquancy and fun.

4

  Verb. (American).—To suspect.

5

  1890.  H. H. BOYESEN, A Platonic Affair, in Harper’s Magazine, lxxx. Feb., 349. They somehow SUSPICIONED he wasn’t quite sound on hell.

6

  1899.  WESTCOTT, David Harum, i. An’ didn’t ye SUSPICION nuthin’ when he took ye up like that?

7