What little bread....

[driftwood]

In the two sentences below, can I replace 'what' with 'whatever'? Is 'whatever' preferable to 'what'? If not, what does 'what' mean?

What little bread there was was stale and eaten, of course, without butter or jam.
I hadn't been there more than a few minutes before one of the thieves managed to rob what little bread I had squirreled away.

[Tdol]

It's like 'the very little' and I would not use whatever there; what emphasises how little there was while whatever could be used with a large quantity and doesn't carry the same focus.

[driftwood]

It's like 'the very little' and I would not use whatever there; what emphasises how little there was while whatever could be used with a large quantity and doesn't carry the same focus.

Thank you for your reply.

Do you consider 'what little' to be a collocation?

Where is this use of 'what' derived from? Could it have come from "What little bread I have!, exclamation mood?

[Raymott]

Thank you for your reply.

Do you consider 'what little' to be a collocation?

Where is this use of 'what' derived from? Could it have come from "What little bread I have!, exclamation mood?

No, it's not a collocation. But it does tend to have a connotation of "not enough"
What precious water we had, we kept for sipping.
What Christmases I have remaining, I'd like to spend with my grandchildren.
What eligible bachelors do exist, don't go to the same places as me.

I don't know the derivation.