dibble

n : a wooden hand tool with a pointed end; used to make holes in

the ground for planting seeds or bulbs [syn: {dibber}]

v 1: plant with a dibble

2: make a hole with a dibble or as if with a dibble: "dibble

the ground"

nibble

/nib'l/ (US "nybble", by analogy with "bite" -> "byte")

Half a {byte}. Since a byte is nearly always eight {bits}, a

nibble is nearly always four bits (and can therefore be

represented by one {hex} digit).

Other size nibbles have existed, for example the {BBC

Microcomputer} disk file system used eleven bit sector numbers

which were described as one byte (eight bits) and a nibble

(three bits).

Compare {crumb}, {tayste}, {dynner}; see also {bit}, {nickle},

{deckle}.

The spelling "nybble" is uncommon in {Commonwealth Hackish} as

British orthography suggests the pronunciation /ni:'bl/.

(1997-12-03)