kibble

¹

[ kib-uhl ]

verb (used with object)

, kib·bled, kib·bling.

1. to grind or divide into particles or pellets, as coarse-ground meal or prepared dry dog food.

noun

1. grains or pellets resulting from a kibbling process.

kibble

²

[ kib-uhl ]

noun

, British.

1. an iron bucket used in mines for hoisting ore.

kibble

¹

/ ˈkɪbəl /

noun

1. a bucket used in wells or in mining for hoisting

kibble

²

/ ˈkɪbəl /

verb

1. tr to grind into small pieces

noun

1. ground meal formed into pellets and used as pet food

Word History and Origins

Origin of kibble¹

First recorded in 1780–90; origin uncertain

Origin of kibble²

First recorded in 1665–75, kibble is from the German word Kübel pail, vat

Word History and Origins

Origin of kibble¹

C17: from German Kübel; related to Old English cyfel, ultimately from Medieval Latin cuppa cup

Origin of kibble²

C18: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

Cats require kibble, distractions from destroying your furniture, litter box maintenance and affection.

From Salon

Long-term possibilities could include distributing polar bear kibble, but Dr. Derocher said that it wasn’t possible to sustain a subpopulation that way indefinitely.

From New York Times

When it comes to pet food, pullout storage bins inside your cabinets can be a great way to add ready-to-scoop kibble.

From Seattle Times

And I’m tired of hunching down in front of him and walking backward, offering up bits of kibble to tempt him.

From Los Angeles Times

The silence in my home, after that, was unsettling: no scritch-scratching of claws on hardwood floors or chomping of kibble in the background as I pecked away at my keyboard writing articles.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• grate
• pulverize
• reduce
• scrape