piece

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "piece" is used to mean "a stretch" or "a distance" - often in phrases like "a fur piece" or "a little piece" when talking about how far something is. It’s a way of measuring travel without numbers.

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #Distance #TravelandLocation #OldTimers #Southern

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I've heard 'piece' all my life, but it's more of an old timers one nowadays.

Pronunciation

[PEES]

Meaning & Usage

- A distance or stretch of travel (noun/dialect)

Mae:

How far to the next gas station?

Earl:

Oh, just a piece down the road.

- Indefinite measure, usually longer than a quick walk (figurative)

Mae:

Is it close?

Earl:

Nah, it’s a fur piece from here.

other spellings: a fur piece

★ "Piece" for distance is a hallmark of Southern/Appalachian speech. It lets folks give directions without exact miles, fitting an oral culture of landmarks and travel by foot or car rather than GPS. ★

Origin

From older English usage of "piece" to mean "portion" or "part." In rural Southern/Appalachian dialects it broadened to "a portion of distance" - first recorded in 19th-century travel writing and still used today.

Notes

Still common in rural Southern/Appalachian talk ("It’s a good piece down the road"). Outsiders rarely use "piece" this way unless imitating country talk.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "piece." Often combined: "a fur piece," "a little piece," "a good piece."

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Does "piece" mean something you can measure?

Not exactly - it’s indefinite, like "a ways" or "a stretch."

What’s "fur piece"?

"Fur" is dialect for "far," so "a fur piece" = "a far piece" = "a long distance."

Do people still use it today?

Yes - especially older Southerners, travelers, and storytellers.