bible

Meaning

Noun

• A comprehensive manual that describes something, or a publication with a loyal readership.
• Synonym of holystone: a piece of sandstone used for scouring wooden decks on ships.
• A compilation of problems and solutions from previous years of a given course, used by some students to cheat on tests or assignments.
• Omasum, the third compartment of the stomach of ruminants
• The upper part of a pin-tumbler lock, containing the driver pins and springs.

Origin

• From Middle English bible, from Middle Latin biblia (misinterpreted as a feminine from earlier Latin neuter plural biblia), from Ancient Greek βιβλία ("books"), plural of βιβλίον, originally a diminutive of βίβλος, from βύβλος (from the ancient Phoenician city of Byblos which exported this writing material).
• Old English used biblioþece (from βιβλιοθήκη) and gewritu (> English writs) for "the Scriptures".