nipple
English
editAlternative forms
editEtymology
editFrom earlier neple, nypil, neble, believed to be a diminutive of nib, neb (“tip, point”), equivalent to nib + -le. Compare Old English nypel (“elephant trunk”), formed analogously as "a protuberance from one's neb" .
Pronunciation
editNoun
editnipple (plural nipples)
- (anatomy) The projection of a mammary gland from which, on female mammals, milk is secreted. [from 16th c.]
- Synonyms: tit; see also Thesaurus:nipples
- A mechanical device through which liquids or gases can be passed in a regulated manner. [from 16th c.]
- An artificial nipple (definition 1) used for bottle-feeding infants. [from 17th c.]
- Synonym: teat
- Any small physical protrusion, such as the lumps on the F and J keys on computer keyboards.
- Any small physical protrusion on an automotive, a machine part or any other part that fits into a groove on another part.
- (now chiefly historical) A perforated segment that fits into part of the breech of a muzzle-loading gun, on which the percussion cap is fixed. [from 19th c.]
- 2013, Philipp Meyer, The Son, Simon & Schuster, published 2014, page 23:
- I could tell he didn't agree but he went to the corner and took up his squirrel gun, feeling the nipple for a percussion cap.
- (plumbing, chiefly US) A short tube threaded at both ends, used as a connector. [from 19th c.]
- (cycling) An internally threaded piece which holds a bicycle spoke in place on the rim. [from 20th c.]
- Turn the nipples on to the bicycle spokes only one turn, for each spoke on the new wheel all the way around until they are all snug, then check alignment.
- (computing, humorous) A pointing stick.
Derived terms
edit- grease nipple
- nip
- Nipple Butte
- nipple cactus
- nipple clamp
- nipple-confused
- nipple confusion
- nipple cripple
- nippled
- nipplefruit
- nipple gong
- nipple guard
- nippleless
- nipplelike
- nipple mouse
- nipple pastie
- nipple pasty
- nipple shield
- nipplewort
- nipple wrench
- nippley
- nipply
- Paget's disease of the nipple
- pepperoni nipple
- slippery nipple
- spoke nipple
Descendants
editTranslations
editprojection of mammary gland
|
device through which liquids or gases can be passed in a regulated manner
artificial nipple for bottle feeding
|
small protrusion on machinery that fits into a groove
short threaded connecting tube
piece to connect a bicycle spoke to the rim
pointing stick — see also pointing stick
|
Verb
editnipple (third-person singular simple present nipples, present participle nippling, simple past and past participle nippled)
- (transitive) To fit (a baby's bottle, etc.) with a nipple.
- (transitive) To give one's nipple to (a baby) to allow breastfeeding.
Further reading
editAnagrams
editYola
editNoun
editnipple
- diminutive of neape
- GLOSSARY OF THE DIALECT OF FORTH AND BARGY:
- Nipple is a diminutive of nape or neap.
- GLOSSARY OF THE DIALECT OF FORTH AND BARGY:
References
edit- Jacob Poole (d. 1827) (before 1828) William Barnes, editor, A Glossary, With some Pieces of Verse, of the old Dialect of the English Colony in the Baronies of Forth and Bargy, County of Wexford, Ireland, London: J. Russell Smith, published 1867, page 59
Categories:
- English terms suffixed with -le (diminutive)
- English 2-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio links
- Rhymes:English/ɪpəl
- Rhymes:English/ɪpəl/2 syllables
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- en:Anatomy
- English terms with historical senses
- English terms with quotations
- American English
- en:Cycling
- English terms with usage examples
- en:Computing
- English humorous terms
- English verbs
- English transitive verbs
- Yola lemmas
- Yola nouns
- Yola diminutive nouns