thimble Hear it!

thimble definition

thim·ble (t̸him′bəl)

noun

  1. a small cap of metal, plastic, etc. worn as a protection on the finger that pushes the needle in sewing
  2. anything like this; esp., a grooved, metal ring inserted in a loop of rope or in a sail's rope hole to prevent wear

Etymology: ME thimbel (with unhistoric -b-) < OE thymel, thumbstall < thuma, thumb + -el, dim. suffix

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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