“Orts” has nearly always referred to scraps of food left over after a meal, either by people or by animals. It originated as “orǣt” in Old English, but we find similar words meaning “scrap of food” or “leftover food” in other languages: “oräte” in Swedish, “oret” in Danish, “oort” in Dutch, and “Orte” in German. But “orts” in English sometimes has other meanings — one usage is “pieces of wisdom.” In this context, a student taking careful notes might be hoping to catch as many orts of her teacher’s knowledge as possible. In a needlework or sewing context, orts are scraps of thread left over after stitching.