different between nibble vs nubble

English

Etymology 1

Probably of Dutch or Low German origin, perhaps from Middle Low German nibbelen (“to gnaw”), akin to modern Low German nibbeln (“to gnaw”) and Dutch nibbelen (“to nibble”), equivalent to nip +? -le (frequentative suffix). Compare Saterland Frisian nibje (“to nibble”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?n?b?l/
• Rhymes: -?b?l

Noun

nibble (plural nibbles)

1. A small, quick bite taken with the front teeth.
2. (in the plural, nibbles) Small snacks such as crisps/potato chips or nuts, often eaten to accompany drinks.

Derived terms

• nibbly

Translations

Verb

nibble (third-person singular simple present nibbles, present participle nibbling, simple past and past participle nibbled)

1. (transitive, intransitive) To eat with small, quick bites.
2. (transitive) To bite lightly.

3. (figuratively) To consume gradually.
4. To find fault; to cavil.

Synonyms

• (eat delicately): piddle

Derived terms

• nibbler

Translations

Etymology 2

From nibble, punning on the homophony of byte and bite.

Alternative forms

• nybble

Noun

nibble (plural nibbles)

1. (computing) A unit of memory equal to half a byte, or four bits.

Translations

References

Portuguese

Etymology

From English nibble.

Noun

nibble m (plural nibbles)

1. (computing) nibble (half a byte)

English

Etymology

Compare Low German nubben (“to knock, cuff”).

Noun

nubble (plural nubbles)

1. A small knob or lump.
   • 1897, Rudyard Kipling, Captains Courageous, chapter 1

     Harvey saw with disgust that there were no sheets on his bed-place. He was lying on a piece of dingy ticking full of lumps and nubbles.

Verb

nubble (third-person singular simple present nubbles, present participle nubbling, simple past and past participle nubbled)

1. (obsolete) To beat or bruise with the fist.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Ainsworth to this entry?)

Anagrams

• Lubben