Word: nibble Part of Speech: verb Etymology: The verb is derived from Late Middle English nebillen, nebyll (“to peck away at (something), nibble; (figurative) to attempt to sing (a part of a song)”); further etymology uncertain, possibly from Middle Low German nibbelen (“to eat in small bites, peck”) (modern German Low German nibbeln, gnibbeln, knibbeln), possibly a variant of knabbelen, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gnet- (“to press”) or imitative. The noun is derived from the verb. Cognates * Middle Dutch cnibbelen (modern Dutch knibbelen (“to gnaw; to murmur”), nibbelen (“to nibble”)) * Saterland Frisian nibje (“to nibble”) * West Frisian knibbelje Pronunciation: /ˈnɪbl̩/, /ˈnɪb(ə)l/ 1. To take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something). Labels: transitive Example: The rabbit nibbled the lettuce. Example: His little Goats gan driue out of their ſtalls, / To feede abroad, vvhere paſture beſt befalls. / […] / Some clambring through the hollovv cliffes on hy, / Nibble the buſhie ſhrubs, vvhich grovve thereby. 2. To lightly bite (a person or animal, or part of their body), especially in a loving or playful manner; to nip. Labels: transitive Example: My hand, as it hangs down, thou nibblest tenderly, […] Example: Social animals perform many little services for each other: horses nibble, and cows lick each other, on any spot which itches: […] 3. To make (a hole in something) through small bites. Labels: transitive 4. To make (one's way) through or while taking small bites. Labels: transitive Example: Before he realized it, he had nibbled his way through a whole bag of potato chips. Example: The cows nibbled their way across the field. 5. Chiefly followed by into or to: to cause (something) to be in a certain state through small bites. Labels: transitive Example: The bases of the smaller trees were nibbled bare by rabbits, […] Example: The grass had been nibbled short and even, so this stretch was not shaggy and red like the surrounding country, but gray and velvety. 6. Followed by away, off, etc.: to remove (something) through small bites. Labels: transitive Example: The ravviſh danke of clumzie vvinter ramps / The fluent ſummers vaine: and drizling ſleete / Chilleth the vvan bleak cheek of the numd earth, / VVhilſt ſnarling guſts nibble the iuyceles leaues, / From the nak't ſhuddring branch; […] Example: Am I reiected, all my baites nibled off, / And not the fiſh caught? 7. Followed by away, off, etc.: to remove (something) through small bites. Labels: transitive 8. To fidget or play with (something), especially with the fingers or hands. Labels: obsolete, transitive Example: Ellen stood dumb and motionless, looking steadfastly down at the hem of her green jerkin, which she was nibbling with both her hands. 9. To catch (someone); to nab. Labels: obsolete, slang, transitive Example: [T]he Roague has ſpied me novv, hee nibled me finely once too; […] 10. To steal (something); to pilfer. Labels: obsolete, slang, transitive 11. Chiefly followed by at, away, or on: to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites. Labels: intransitive Example: The rabbit nibbled at the lettuce. Example: What deepe and rare pointes of hiddẽ [hidden] secrets Virgil hathe sealde vp in hys twelue bookes of Aeneis, maye easily appeare to such reaching wits, as bend their endeuours, to the vnfolding thereof; not only by gnibling vpon the outwarde rine of a supposed historie, but also by groaping the pyth, that is shrind vp within the barke and bodie of so exquisit and singular a discourse. 12. To lightly bite, especially in a loving or playful manner. Labels: intransitive Example: He nibbled at my neck and made me shiver. 13. Chiefly followed by at: to show slight interest in something, such as a commercial opportunity or a proposal. Labels: figuratively, intransitive Example: [W]hy mouſe, thy minde is nibbling at ſomething, vvhats iſt, vvhat lyes vpon thy Stomach? 14. Followed by away at: to reduce or use up gradually; to eat. Labels: figuratively, intransitive Example: A report out this week from the National Consumer Law Center lays out a host of ways in which banks nibble away at jobless benefits with fees the center called "junk." 15. Followed by at: of a batter: to make an indecisive attempt to bat a ball bowled outside the off stump. Labels: figuratively, informal, intransitive 16. Synonym of tramline (“of a vehicle: to tend to follow the contours of the ground with its wheels”). Labels: figuratively, intransitive 17. To fidget or play, especially with the fingers or hands. Labels: intransitive, obsolete Example: [S]he was with childe in hir huſbande his abſence, or that hir louer vſed hir fondly in open preſence, as the preſumption was not onely vehement, but alſo the fact too too apparent. Hir vnfortunat huſband had not ſooner notice gyuen him vpon his returne of theſe ſorowfull newes, then his fingers began to nibble, hys teeth to grinne, hys eyes to trickle, his eares to dindle, his heade to dezell, in ſomuch as his heart being ſkeared wyth ialouſie, & his wits enſtalde through Phrenſie, he became as madde, as a marche hare. 18. Chiefly followed by at: to make insignificant complaints; to carp, to cavil, to find fault. Labels: intransitive, obsolete Example: Nay more, have not some of their devoted Schollers begun, I need to saw to nibble, but openly to argue against the Kings Supremacie? Example: But hovvever he vvill nibble at ſome Paſſages of this Section, to ſhevv his ovvn great VVit; though he borrovvs another Man's great reading. 19. To engage in sexual intercourse. Labels: intransitive, obsolete, slang Example: Hart I vvould giue but too much money to be nibling vvith that vvench, […] Example: Sec[retary to the Dutchess]. […] A ſpirited Lady, vvould I had her in my cloſet, […] Exit. / Cel[inda]. I do ſuſpect this fellovv vvould be nibling / Like ſome vvhoſe narrovv fortunes vvill not riſe / To vvear things vvhen the inventions rare, and nevv, / But treading on the heel of pride, they hunt / The faſhion vvhen tis crippled, like fell tyrants; […]