Definition of "a little"

Orion hit a rabbit once; but though sore wounded it got to the bury, and, struggling in, the arrow caught the side of the hole and was drawn out. Indeed, a nail filed sharp is not of much avail as an arrowhead; you must have it barbed, and that was a little beyond our skill.

1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter II, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […]

Hi, Amelia! Are you busy? — I’m a little busy.mw-parser-output .k-player .k-attribution{visibility:hidden}Audio (US)(file)

2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)

Scrooge McDuck "A little salty."Zeus "Dip not good enough for you mortal? You offend Olympus!"

2018, “The Spear of Selene”, in Duck Tales