尺せっ縑けん

noun

small amount of silk; one foot of silk cloth

Literally a single 尺 (about 30 cm) of silk cloth; used to indicate a very small quantity of silk. Rare and literary.

• 尺せっ縑けんすら手てに入はいらぬ貧まずしさだった。

  They were so poor they couldn't even get a small piece of silk.

noun

trivial painting; unimportant artwork

Derogatory term for a painting or work of art considered insignificant, perhaps originally comparing it to a mere foot of silk. Rare and literary.

• 彼かれの作さく品ひんは尺せっ縑けんに過すぎないと酷こく評ひょうされた。

  His work was harshly criticized as being nothing more than a trivial painting.