1642, "marriageable" (said of a woman), from Fr. nubile, from L. nubilis "marriageable," from stem of nubere "take as husband." First used 1973 in sense of "sexually attractive."
Main Entry: nu·bile Pronunciation: 'n(y)ü-b&l, -"bIl Function: adjective : sexually mature; especially: of marriageablecondition or age —used of young women —nu·bil·i·ty/n(y)ü-'bil-&t-E/nounplural-ties