noun
small piece of cloth; scrap of fabric
Refers to a small, often leftover piece of cloth or fabric, such as a patch or remnant.
小切れを縫い合わせてパッチワークを作った。
I sewed small pieces of cloth together to make a patchwork.
裁縫箱に小切れがたくさん入っている。
There are many scraps of fabric in the sewing box.
Rare spelling using 裂 (tear/scrap).
端切れ also means a scrap of cloth, but often implies a leftover piece from cutting, while 小切れ emphasizes the small size.
Compound of 小 (small) and 切れ (piece, from 切る 'to cut'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word transparently means 'small piece'.