Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

   4. Not prolonged in duration; not extended in time; short;
      as, after a small space. --Shak.

   5. Weak; slender; fine; gentle; soft; not loud. ``A still,
      small voice.'' --1 Kings xix. 12.

   {Great and small},of all ranks or degrees; -- used especially
      of persons. ``His quests, great and small.'' --Chaucer.

   {Small arms}, muskets, rifles, pistols, etc., in distinction
      from cannon.

   {Small beer}. See under {Beer}.

   {Small coal}.
      (a) Little coals of wood formerly used to light fires.
          --Gay.
      (b) Coal about the size of a hazelnut, separated from the
          coarser parts by screening.

   {Small craft} (Naut.), a vessel, or vessels in general, of a
      small size.

   {Small fruits}. See under {Fruit}.

   {Small hand}, a certain size of paper. See under {Paper}.

   {Small hours}. See under {Hour}.

   {Small letter}. (Print.), a lower-case letter. See
      {Lower-case}, and {Capital letter}, under {Capital}, a.

   {Small piece}, a Scotch coin worth about 21/4d. sterling, or
      about 41/2cents.

   {Small register}. See the Note under 1st {Register}, 7.

   {Small stuff} (Naut.), spun yarn, marline, and the smallest
      kinds of rope. --R. H. Dana, Jr.

   {Small talk}, light or trifling conversation; chitchat.

   {Small wares} (Com.), various small textile articles, as
      tapes, braid, tringe, and the like. --M`Culloch.

Stuff \Stuff\, n. [OF. estoffe, F. ['e]toffe; of uncertain
   origin, perhaps of Teutonic origin and akin to E. stop, v.t.
   Cf. {Stuff}, v. t.]
   1. Material which is to be worked up in any process of
      manufacture.

            For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the
            work to make it, and too much.        --Ex. xxxvi.
                                                  7.

            Ambitions should be made of sterner stuff. --Shak.

            The workman on his stuff his skill doth show, And
            yet the stuff gives not the man his skill. --Sir J.
                                                  Davies.

   2. The fundamental material of which anything is made up;
      elemental part; essence.

            Yet do I hold it very stuff o' the conscience To do
            no contrived murder.                  --Shak.

   3. Woven material not made into garments; fabric of any kind;
      specifically, any one of various fabrics of wool or
      worsted; sometimes, worsted fiber.

            What stuff wilt have a kirtle of?     --Shak.

            It [the arras] was of stuff and silk mixed, though,
            superior kinds were of silk exclusively. --F. G.
                                                  Lee.

   4. Furniture; goods; domestic vessels or utensils.

            He took away locks, and gave away the king's stuff.
                                                  --Hayward.

   5. A medicine or mixture; a potion. --Shak.

   6. Refuse or worthless matter; hence, also, foolish or
      irrational language; nonsense; trash.

            Anger would indite Such woeful stuff as I or
            Shadwell write.                       --Dryden.

   7. (Naut.) A melted mass of turpentine, tallow, etc., with
      which the masts, sides, and bottom of a ship are smeared
      for lubrication.                            --Ham. Nav.
                                                  Encyc.

   8. Paper stock ground ready for use.

   Note: When partly ground, called half stuff. --Knight.

   {Clear stuff}. See under {Clear}.

   {Small stuff} (Naut.), all kinds of small cordage. --Ham.
      Nav. Encyc.

   {Stuff gown}, the distinctive garb of a junior barrister;
      hence, a junior barrister himself. See {Silk gown}, under
      {Silk}.

Source : WordNet®

small stuff
     n : any light rope used on shipboard