By degrees (9)
I believe the answer is:
piecemeal
'by degrees' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for piecemeal that I've seen before include "A bit at a time" , "Bit by bit; unsystematic" , "Claim epee in gradual unsystematic way" , "by degrees" , "step by step" .)