hint vs sprinkling

hint

noun
  • A small, barely detectable amount. 

  • An instruction to the database engine as to how a query should be executed, for example whether to use an index or not. 

  • An implicit suggestion that avoids a direct statement. 

  • A clue. 

  • Information in a computer-based font that suggests how the outlines of the font's glyphs should be distorted in order to produce, at specific sizes, a visually appealing pixel-based rendering; an instance of hinting. 

verb
  • To develop and add hints to a font. 

  • To imply without a direct statement; to provide a clue. 

  • To bring to mind by a slight mention or remote allusion; to suggest in an indirect manner. 

sprinkling

noun
  • A small thinly distributed amount, e.g. of some liquid, powder or other fine substance that is sprinkled on to something. 

  • The action of the verb to sprinkle. 

  • A light shower of rain. 

  • A scattering. 

How often have the words hint and sprinkling occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )