nibble

Meanings

Noun

• A small, quick bite taken with the front teeth.
• Small snacks such as crisps/potato chips or nuts, often eaten to accompany drinks.
• A unit of memory equal to half a byte, or four bits.

Verb

• To eat with small, quick bites.
• To bite lightly.
• To consume gradually.
• To find fault; to cavil.

Related

Similar words

• piddle

Origin

• Probably of Dutch or Low German origin, perhaps from Middle Low German nibbelen ("to gnaw"), akin to modern Low German nibbeln and Dutch nibbelen ("to nibble"), equivalent to nip + -le. Compare Saterland Frisian nibje ("to nibble").
• From nibble, punning on the homophony of byte and bite.