The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Little \Lit"tle\, n.
   1. That which is little; a small quantity, amount, space, or
      the like.
      [1913 Webster]

            Much was in little writ.              --Dryden.
      [1913 Webster]

            There are many expressions, which carrying with them
            no clear ideas, are like to remove but little of my
            ignorance.                            --Locke.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A small degree or scale; miniature. " His picture in
      little." --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

            A little, to or in a small degree; to a limited
            extent; somewhat; for a short time. " Stay a
            little." --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

            The painter flattered her a little.   --Shak.


   By little and little, or Little by little, by slow
      degrees; piecemeal; gradually.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

little by little
    adv 1: a little bit at a time; "the research structure has
           developed piecemeal" [syn: piecemeal, little by
           little, bit by bit, in stages]
    2: by a short distance; "they moved it by inches" [syn: by
       inches, little by little, by small degrees]