Scherflein

Etymology
Diminutive of Scherf, from, from , ultimately from.

Related to modern and  (from, cognate with 🇨🇬), because the coins were originally notched so they could be broken up for payment when needed.

Introduced by Luther as a translation for the in Mark 12:42.

Noun

 * 1) widow's mite, i.e. a small donation or contribution, esp. of monetary kind.

Usage notes

 * In contemporary usage, mostly used in the idiomatic expression sein/ihr Scherflein (zu etwas) beitragen ("to contribute one's mite (to something)").