dibble

[ dib-uhl ]
See synonyms for dibble on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. Also dib·ber [dib-er]. /ˈdɪb ər/. a small, handheld, pointed implement for making holes in soil for planting seedlings, bulbs, etc.

verb (used with object),dib·bled, dib·bling.
  1. to make a hole (in the ground) with or as if with a dibble.

  2. to set (plants) in holes made with a dibble.

verb (used without object),dib·bled, dib·bling.
  1. to work with a dibble.

Origin of dibble

1
1325–75; late Middle English, perhaps akin to dib

Other words from dibble

  • dibbler, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for dibble (1 of 3)

dibble1

/ (ˈdɪbəl) /


noun
  1. Also called (esp Brit): dibber (ˈdɪbə) a small hand tool used to make holes in the ground for planting or transplanting bulbs, seeds, or roots

verb
  1. to make a hole in (the ground) with a dibble

  2. to plant (bulbs, seeds, etc) with a dibble

Origin of dibble

1
C15: of obscure origin

Derived forms of dibble

  • dibbler, noun

British Dictionary definitions for dibble (2 of 3)

dibble2

/ (ˈdɪbəl) /


verb(intr)
  1. a variant of dib

  2. a less common word for dabble

British Dictionary definitions for dibble (3 of 3)

dibble3

/ (ˈdɪbəl) /


noun
  1. British slang a policeman

Origin of dibble

3
C20: allusion to the police officer of that name in the children's animated cartoon Top Cat

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012