nipple

English Online Dictionary. What means nipple‎? What does nipple mean?

English

Alternative forms

• neple, nypil, nyppell, neapel, neaple, neble (obsolete)

Etymology

From earlier neple, nypil, neble, believed to be a diminutive of nib, neb (“tip, point”), equivalent to nib +‎ -le. Compare Old English nypel (“elephant trunk”), formed analogously as "a protuberance from one's neb" .

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈnɪ.p(ə)l/
• Rhymes: -ɪpəl

Noun

nipple (plural nipples)

2. (anatomy) The projection of a mammary gland from which, on female therian mammals, milk is secreted. [from 16th c.]

   Synonyms: tit; see also Thesaurus:nipples

4. The nipple (definition 1) and the areola together.
5. A mechanical device through which liquids or gases can be passed in a regulated manner. [from 16th c.]
6. An artificial nipple (definition 1) used for bottle-feeding infants. [from 17th c.]

   Synonym: teat

7. Any small physical protrusion, such as the lumps on the F and J keys on computer keyboards.
8. Any small physical protrusion on an automotive, a machine part or any other part that fits into a groove on another part.
9. (now chiefly historical) A perforated segment that fits into part of the breech of a muzzle-loading gun, on which the percussion cap is fixed. [from 19th c.]
11. (plumbing, chiefly US) A short tube threaded at both ends, used as a connector. [from 19th c.]
13. (cycling) An internally threaded piece which holds a bicycle spoke in place on the rim. [from 20th c.]
15. (computing, humorous) A pointing stick.

Derived terms

Descendants

• → Dutch: nippel
• → German: Nippel
  • → Danish: nippel
• → Norwegian: nippel

Translations

Verb

nipple (third-person singular simple present nipples, present participle nippling, simple past and past participle nippled)

1. (transitive) To fit (a baby's bottle, etc.) with a nipple.
2. (transitive) To give one's nipple to (a baby) to allow breastfeeding.

See also

• smuggling raisins

Further reading

• nipple on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Anagrams

• lippen

Yola

Noun

nipple

1. diminutive of neape
   • GLOSSARY OF THE DIALECT OF FORTH AND BARGY:

     Nipple is a diminutive of nape or neap.

References

• Jacob Poole (d. 1827) (before 1828) William Barnes, editor, A Glossary, With some Pieces of Verse, of the old Dialect of the English Colony in the Baronies of Forth and Bargy, County of Wexford, Ireland, London: J. Russell Smith, published 1867, page 59