Womble

See also: womble

English

Etymology 1

Created by author Elisabeth Beresford; they originally appeared in a series of children's novels from 1968. The name was suggested to the author by her young daughter's mispronunciation of the place name "Wimbledon" as "Wombledon" [1][2]. The books centre on the activities of a group of the creatures who live on Wimbledon Common.

Noun

Womble (plural Wombles)

1. (UK) A fictional pointy-nosed furry creature. They are supposed to live in burrows, where they help the environment by collecting and recycling rubbish in creative ways.
   • 1968, Elisabeth Beresford, (Please provide the book title or journal name):

     Wombles are a bit like teddy bears to look at but they have real claws and live underneath Wimbledon Common and devote their lives to ‘tidying up’ all the things those untidy Human Beings leave behind.

2. (UK, as 'the Wombles') A nickname of Wimbledon Football Club.

Etymology 2

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Alternative forms

• Wamble

Proper noun

Womble

1. A surname.

Anagrams

• blow me, embowl