thimble

[ thim-buhl ]

noun

1. a small cap, usually of metal, worn over the fingertip to protect it when pushing a needle through cloth in sewing.
2. Mechanics. any of various similar devices or attachments.
3. Nautical. a metal ring with a concave groove on the outside, used to line the outside of a ring of rope forming an eye.
4. a sleeve of sheet metal passing through the wall of a chimney, for holding the end of a stovepipe or the like.
5. a thimble-shaped printing element with raised characters on the exterior: used in a type of electronic typewriter or computer printer thimbleprinter.

thimble

/ ˈθɪmbəl /

noun

1. a cap of metal, plastic, etc, used to protect the end of the finger when sewing
2. any small metal cap resembling this
3. nautical a loop of metal having a groove at its outer edge for a rope or cable, for lining the inside of an eye
4. short for thimbleful

Other Words From

• thimble·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of thimble¹

before 1000; Middle English thym ( b ) yl, Old English thȳmel; akin to Old Norse thumall thumb of a glove. See thumb, -le

Word History and Origins

Origin of thimble¹

Old English thӯmel thumbstall, from thūma thumb

Example Sentences

The dervish wore a white shroud, covered by a black robe and a black felt cap the shape of a thimble.

From Literature

“We shall explain the circumstances of our household,” she said over a thimble.

From Literature

Far, far below me, the trash can seemed like a thimble.

From Literature

Next to that, Charlotte's pudge paranoia is a thimble of that bone broth she forlornly sucks down in her quick weight-loss quest.

From Salon

Returning to the subject of episodically dominant conservative media figures, Maddow's purpose was less about offering true context than blunt honesty with a thimble of comfort.

From Salon