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nipple

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

English

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A woman's breasts, with the nipple (sense 1) indicated.
A pipe nipple (connector, sense 8)
Spoke nipples (sense 9)
Nipple (sense 10) on a laptop keyboard

Alternative forms

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Etymology

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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

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  • IPA(key): /ˈnɪ.p(ə)l/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɪpəl

Noun

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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.]
    • 2013, Philipp Meyer, The Son, Simon & Schuster, published 2014, page 23:
      I could tell he didn't agree but he went to the corner and took up his squirrel gun, feeling the nipple for a percussion cap.
  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.]
    Turn the nipples on to the bicycle spokes only one turn, for each spoke on the new wheel all the way around until they are all snug, then check alignment.
    • 1921, W. F. Grew, The Cycle Industry, London, page 5:
      These were first constructed by heading the spokes, threading them through a steel felloe or rim and inserting them into screwed nipples which were in their turn screwed into the flanges of the hub.
  15. (computing, humorous) A pointing stick.

Derived terms

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Descendants

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

Translations

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Verb

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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.

Further reading

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Anagrams

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Yola

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Noun

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nipple

  1. diminutive of neape
    • GLOSSARY OF THE DIALECT OF FORTH AND BARGY:
      Nipple is a diminutive of nape or neap.

References

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  • 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
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