doit

noun

1. (historical)A small Dutch coin, equivalent to one-eighth of a stiver.

   “'"You got a lot of gold off Mr. Beauclerc," says Glascock. '"Not a doit more than I wanted," says he, laughing again. "And who, pray, had a better right—did not I murder him?"”

   “Soon after I arrived here the Dutch Government introduced a new copper coinage of cents instead of doits (the 100th instead of the 120th part of a guilder), and all the old coins were ordered to be sent to Ternate to be changed. I sent a bag containing 6,000 doits, and duly received the new money by return of the boat.”

2. (archaic)A small amount; a bit, a jot.

   “[…] when they will not giue a doit to relieue a lame Begger, they will lay out ten to ſee a dead Indian: […]”

   ““Speak out, ye Saxon dogs — what bid ye for your worthless lives? — How say you, you of Rotherwood?” “Not a doit I,” answered poor Wamba.”

   “"As a matter of fact," explained the young man, "the present tenant is under our notice to leave." "Unsatisfactory, eh?" said Carrados encouragingly. "He's a corker," admitted the clerk, responding to the friendly tone. "Fifteen months and not a doit of rent have we had. That's why I should have liked——"”

3. In jazz music, a note that slides to an indefinite pitch chromatically upwards.

   “Jazz symbols include many contoured articulations and inflections, such as doits, fall-offs, and scoops.”

verb

1. (Scotland, rare)To stumble; to blunder.

   “I trembled with astonishment; and on my return from the small window went doiting in amongst the weaver's looms, tillI entangled myself, and could not get out again without working great deray amongst the coarse linen threads that stood in warp from one end of the apartment unto the other.”