thimble en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (General-American) audio
- /ˈθɪmb(ə)l/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
The noun is derived from Middle English thymbyll, thimel (“thimble”) [and other forms], from Old English þȳmel (“thimble, thumbstall; fingerstall”), then either: * from Old English þūma (“thumb”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *tewh₂- (“to swell”)) + -el (suffix forming agent nouns and the names of instruments); or * from Proto-Germanic *þūmilaz (“thumb-covering, thumb-sheath”), from *þūmô (“thumb”) (ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root mentioned above) + *-ilaz (suffix forming agent nouns). The English word is analysable as thumb + -le (suffix forming agent nouns), and is cognate with Dutch duimeling (“thumbstall”), German Däumling (“thumbstall”), German Low German Dümelke (“thumbstall”), Saterland Frisian Düümelke (“thumbstall”), Scots thummle, thumble (“thimble”). The verb is derived from the noun.
Meanings
-
A pitted, now usually metal, cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, which is used in sewing to push the needle through material.
She had worn a hole through her silver thimble, and wanted Owen to repair it.
1846, Nathaniel Hawthorne, “The Artist of the Beautiful”, in Mosses from an Old Manse:
- As much as fills a thimble (sense 1); a thimbleful.
- (also, attributive) An object which resembles a thimble (sense 1) in shape or size. ▸ A thimble or similar object used in thimblerig (“a game of skill which requires the bettor to guess under which of three thimbles or small cups a pea-sized object has been placed after the person operating the game rapidly rearranges them”).
- (also, attributive) An object which resembles a thimble (sense 1) in shape or size. ▸ A socket in machinery shaped like a thimble.
-
A metal ring which a cable or rope intended for attaching to other things is looped around as a protection against chafing.
To relieve the stern in a measure from the great weight of the [diving-]bell, a short, strong mast was stepped in the usual place, and steeving forward; from its head to the head of the davit was a span, which set up with two thimbles [footnote: A sort of iron ring.] and a lanyard, and the whole was supported by a strong stay from the mast-head to the stern of the boat, and two shrouds on a side, leading forward.
1836, Thomas Dickinson, A Narrative of the Operations for the Recovery of the Public Stores and Treasure Sunk in H.M.S. Thetis, at Cape Frio, on the Coast of Brazil, on the 5th December, 1830. […], London: Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green, and Longman, →OCLC, page 33:The rope part is fitted with a thimble in one end, which is connected to the chain by means of a shackle; the other extremity is spliced around a heart, and goes with a laniard, as in the case of bobstays. The splice of the thimble and the heart should be served.
1849, John M‘Leod Murphy; W[illiam] N[icholson] Jeffers, Jun., “Part I. Spars and Rigging.”, in Nautical Routine and Stowage; with Short Rules in Navigation, New York, N.Y.: Henry Spear, […], →OCLC, pages 10–11:
- A ring- or tube-shaped component such as a ferrule.
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(UK, obsolete, qualifier:thieves' cant) A watch (timepiece).
One of them had the address, whilst his Majesty was shaking hands with one of his 'Pall-Mall' acquaintances, to slip his hand under his upper tog [coat] and extract his thimble [watch] […]
1821 September 8, Manchester Guardian (quoted in 2010, David J. Cox, A Certain Share of Low Cunning, page 121)
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| thimbles | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
thimblerigging · thimbling · thimble and pea · lady's thimble · bethimbled · thimblerigger · thimblelike · thimble-rigger · thimblemaking · thimble-rig · thimblette · thimblerig · pea and thimble · knight of the thimble · thimblemaker · thimbleman · thimbleweed · thimbled · thimbleeye · thimble-eye · thimbleful · thimbleberry · thimble connector
Hyponyms
Translations (203)
izh sormenpäähiäin (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · nan-hbl 針黹 /针黹 (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · nan-hbl 銅指 /铜指 (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · fi sormustimellinen (as much as fills a thimble — see also thimbleful) · az oymaq (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · th ปลอกนิ้ว (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · cy gwniadur (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · mi temara (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · ky оймок (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · fi sormustin (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · ru ко́уш (metal ring which a cable or rope intended for attaching to other things is looped around as a protection against chafing) · ga méaracán (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · id bidal (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · tk oýmak (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · ja シンブル (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · ko 골무 (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · km ស្នាប់ដេរ (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · th สนับ (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · vo doatahät (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · ru напёрсток (as much as fills a thimble — see also thimbleful) · fi fingerpori (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · nl vingerhoed (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · tr yüksük (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · ur انگشتانہ (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · lo ສນັບ (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · lo ປອກມື (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · es guardacabo (metal ring which a cable or rope intended for attaching to other things is looped around as a protection against chafing) · nn fingerbjørg (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · ht de (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · de ein Fingerhut voll (as much as fills a thimble — see also thimbleful) · ur شام (socket in machinery shaped like a thimble) · tt уймак (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · ga lán méaracáin (as much as fills a thimble — see also thimbleful) · el δακτυλήθρα (as much as fills a thimble — see also thimbleful) · pdt Finjahoot (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · hak 頂指 /顶指 (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · fr dé à coudre (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · sl naprstnik (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · pl sercówka (metal ring which a cable or rope intended for attaching to other things is looped around as a protection against chafing) · cs náprstek (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · ba уймаҡ (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · sh náprstak (as much as fills a thimble — see also thimbleful) · et sõrmkübar (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · ga bianna (socket in machinery shaped like a thimble) · uk напе́рсток (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · te అంగుస్తాను (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · kk оймақ (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · vo doatahätil (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · el δαχτυλήθρα (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · sh на́пршња̄к (as much as fills a thimble — see also thimbleful) · sv fingerborg (as much as fills a thimble — see also thimbleful) · ru му́фта (socket in machinery shaped like a thimble) · sh на́прстак (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · nv nígíí (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · ru напёрсток (thimble or similar object used in thimblerig) · bg на́пръстник (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · mt vajlora (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · cdo 頂針 /顶针 (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · csb palecznik (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · tl dedal (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · scn jitali (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · de Becher (socket in machinery shaped like a thimble) · pl chomątko (metal ring which a cable or rope intended for attaching to other things is looped around as a protection against chafing) · fi silmuri (metal ring which a cable or rope intended for attaching to other things is looped around as a protection against chafing) · he עיזקה \ עִזְקָה (metal ring which a cable or rope intended for attaching to other things is looped around as a protection against chafing) · tl didal (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · de Schneiderfingerhut (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · da kovs (metal ring which a cable or rope intended for attaching to other things is looped around as a protection against chafing) · dng динҗынзы (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · lv uzgalis (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · sh на́прстак (as much as fills a thimble — see also thimbleful) · te అంగులి త్రానము (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · km ស្នាប់ម្រាមដៃ (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · sh náprstak (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · acw كُشْتَبان (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · de Kausche (metal ring which a cable or rope intended for attaching to other things is looped around as a protection against chafing) · sh на́пршња̄к (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · de Buchse (socket in machinery shaped like a thimble) · sw kastabini (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · scn jitaleḍḍu (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · hy մատնոց (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · vi đê (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · cmn 頂針兒 /顶针儿 (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · pdt Neirintj (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · de Sockel (socket in machinery shaped like a thimble) · cmn 頂針 /顶针 (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · mn хуруувч (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · de Fingerhut (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · gv lane mairane (as much as fills a thimble — see also thimbleful) · de Aufnahmedose (socket in machinery shaped like a thimble) · hi नोक (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · hu gyűszű (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · af vingerhoed (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · gd tumail (metal ring which a cable or rope intended for attaching to other things is looped around as a protection against chafing) · gl dedal (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · el δακτυλήθρα (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · gv mairane (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · pl naparstek (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · fur vignarûl (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · nan-hbl 指套 (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · ur ٹوپ (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · el ροδάντζα (metal ring which a cable or rope intended for attaching to other things is looped around as a protection against chafing) · fi koussi (metal ring which a cable or rope intended for attaching to other things is looped around as a protection against chafing) · nb kause (metal ring which a cable or rope intended for attaching to other things is looped around as a protection against chafing) · sh napršnjak (as much as fills a thimble — see also thimbleful) · nds Fingerhoot (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · te తుడుపు (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · gd meuran (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · eo fingringo (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · de Dose (socket in machinery shaped like a thimble) · uz angishvona (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · ja 指貫 (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · hi टोप (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · el δαχτυλήθρα (as much as fills a thimble — see also thimbleful) · hi शाम (socket in machinery shaped like a thimble) · bg муфа (socket in machinery shaped like a thimble) · cim bingarot (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · de Hülse (socket in machinery shaped like a thimble) · alt оймок (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · mk напрсток (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · fa انگشتانه (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · it ditale (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · mn холбоос (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · sc didale (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · pdt Neihoot (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · sk náprstok (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · pt dedal (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · sv fingerborg (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · myv сургудо (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · ta விரல் கவசம் (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · it redancia (metal ring which a cable or rope intended for attaching to other things is looped around as a protection against chafing) · ms bidal (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · ru вту́лка (socket in machinery shaped like a thimble) · crh oymaq (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · ga súil (metal ring which a cable or rope intended for attaching to other things is looped around as a protection against chafing) · nb fingerbøl (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · cjy 頂針子 /顶针子 (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · ar كُسْتِبَان (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · rup dzidzitar (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · ota یوكسوك (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · yue 頂針 /顶针 (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · nn kause (metal ring which a cable or rope intended for attaching to other things is looped around as a protection against chafing) · de Drehgriff (socket in machinery shaped like a thimble) · dlg һүүтүк (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · bn অঙ্গুষ্ঠানা (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · ckb قووچەکە (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · da fingerbøl (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · es dedal (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · ca didal (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · as আঙঠা (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · ja 指ぬき (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · ar كُشْتُبَان (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · ota انگشتانه (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · hi अंगुश्ताना (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · es dedo (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · mg fanosehana (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · tyv чүскүк (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · ru напёрсток (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · is fingurbjörg (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · tk ýüwse (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · dlm ziziul (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · ka სათითე (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · nrf dée (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · mk напрсток (as much as fills a thimble — see also thimbleful) · sh napršnjak (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · vo finedahät (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · gl alferga (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · oc dedal (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · kw byskon (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · de Kappe (socket in machinery shaped like a thimble) · he אצבעון \ אֶצְבָּעוֹן (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · sw kustabani (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · fi kaussi (metal ring which a cable or rope intended for attaching to other things is looped around as a protection against chafing) · dng динҗыр (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · nan-tws 頂針 /顶针 (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · ota اویماق (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · aht layʼdak (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · lt antpirštis (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · de Seilkausche (metal ring which a cable or rope intended for attaching to other things is looped around as a protection against chafing) · pl kausza (metal ring which a cable or rope intended for attaching to other things is looped around as a protection against chafing) · tg ангуштпона (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · sq gishtëz (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · de Nähring (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · ka სათითური (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · gl dedil (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · de Kausch (metal ring which a cable or rope intended for attaching to other things is looped around as a protection against chafing) · az üskük (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · ug ئويماق (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · sah сүүтүк (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · my အပ်ထောက် (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · fr dé (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · fur dedâl (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · ha sāfī (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · cmn 針箍 /针箍 (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · ro degetar (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · sq gizhdë (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · xcl մատանի (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · ckb کلکەوانە (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · pdt Neiroot (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · be напа́рстак (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · gd meuran (metal ring which a cable or rope intended for attaching to other things is looped around as a protection against chafing) · haw komo (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material) · sc deidale (cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, used in sewing to push the needle through material)