breadcrumb

A breadcrumb is a small fragment of bread, the kind that falls from a loaf when sliced or accumulates at the bottom of a toaster.

In the plural, breadcrumbs are used for coating foods before frying: chicken coated in breadcrumbs.

Figuratively, breadcrumbs are small hints or pieces of information left as a trail—from the fairy tale where children mark their path through the forest.

In web design, breadcrumbs are navigational links showing your location within a site's hierarchy.

To breadcrumb someone is to string them along with sporadic, minimal attention: He kept breadcrumbing her with occasional texts.