the little （或 what little）是一个短语，意思是“仅有的一点东西”（little 是代词）或“仅有的......”（little 是限定词）。

    what little (also 又作 the little (that)）仅有的一点；尽可能的一点：We did what little we could to help. 我们已尽绵薄之力。/ I handed over what little money I had left.我把仅剩的一点钱交了出来。（摘自《朗文当代高级英语辞典》第六版）

    the [what] little 仅有[所有]的那点东西（与关系从句连用）：We did what little we could do. 我们做了自己能做的一切。(摘自《外研社英汉多功能词典》)

    I hope the little that I've done has been useful.我希望我所做的那点儿事情是有用的。（摘自《牛津英语用法指南》第四版233.4）

    what little = the little ... 仅有的一点东西 The little of his work that I have seen is excellent. 我所看过的他的作品都十分优秀。/ I did the little (that) I could. = I did what little (that) I could.我已尽了绵薄之力。（摘自《英汉多功能词典》新编升级版 p.987）