by inchmeal

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Inchmeal \Inch"meal`\, n. [See {Meal} a part, and cf.
   {Piecemeal}.]
   A piece an inch long.
   [1913 Webster]

   {By inchmeal}, by small degrees; by inches. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]