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nibble

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Medical, Idioms, Wikipedia 0.04 sec.

nibble

Half a byte (four bits).

nibble [′nib·əl]
(computer science)
A unit of computger storage or information equal to one-half a byte.
(data)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/.


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It was a great treat to us to be turned out into the home paddock or the old orchard; the grass was so cool and soft to our feet, the air so sweet, and the freedom to do as we liked was so pleasant -- to gallop, to lie down, and roll over on our backs, or to nibble the sweet grass.
Black Beauty by Sewell, Anna View in context
Edwards; and I will show you what I call fishing not nibble, nibble, nibble, as ‘Duke does when he goes after the salmon-trout.
The Pioneers by Cooper, James Fenimore View in context
I took the smallest nibbles, never losing a crumb, and chewed the nibble till it became the thinnest and most delectable of pastes.
John Barleycorn by London, Jack View in context
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