Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.

Nibble

Definitions: Nibble

Nibble

Noun

1. A small byte.

2. Gentle biting.

Verb

1. Bite off very small pieces; "She nibbled on her cracker".

2. Eat intermittently; take small bites of; "He pieced at the sandwich all morning"; "She never eats a full meal--she just picks at the food".

3. Eat lightly; "She just nibbles at her food".

Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
 

Date "nibble" was first used: sometime in the early 16th century. (references)



Specialty Definitions: Nibble

DomainDefinitions

Computing

Nibble /nib'l/ (US "nybble", by analogy with "bite" -> "byte") Half a byte. Since a byte is nearly always eight bits, a nibble is nearly always four bits (and can therefore be represented by one hex digit). Other size nibbles have existed, for example the BBC Microcomputer disk file system used eleven bit sector numbers which were described as one byte (eight bits) and a nibble (three bits). Compare crumb, tayste, dynner; see also bit, nickle, deckle. The spelling "nybble" is uncommon in Commonwealth Hackish as British orthography suggests the pronunciation /ni:'bl/. (1997-12-03). Source: The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Specialty Definition: Nibble

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

To nibble on something is to eat a tiny bit of it. People nibble at things to taste them, or because they don't want to eat a lot. Nibble can also be used as a noun, as in "Take a little nibble of this."

A nibble (sometimes spelled nybble) is also 4 bits, this is, half a byte. Being four bits, there are sixteen ( 24 ) possible values, and so a nibble is evenly representable by a single hexadecimal digit (thus often called a "hex digit"). A full byte is evenly representable by two hexadecimal digits; therefore it is a common way to display bytes of information as two hexadecimal nibbles. (Compare this definition of nibble with the one above; computer scientists have a tradition of giving things "punny" names.)

There is also the "Nibbles game." It is present today in many cell phones.

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Nibble."

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Synonyms: Nibble

Synonyms: nybble (n), munch (v), pick (v), piece (v). (additional references)
Synonym by domain: nibbled (computing, electrical engineering).
Antonym: gorge (v). (additional references)

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Synonyms within Context: Nibble

ContextSynonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus).

Disapprobation

Scoff at, point at; twit, taunt; (disrespect); sneer at; (despise); satirize, lampoon; defame; (detract); depreciate, find fault with, criticize, cut up; pull to pieces, pick to pieces; take exception; cavil; peck at, nibble at, carp at; be censorious; Adjective: pick holes, pick a hole, pick a hole in one's coat; make a fuss about.

Dupe

Verb: be deceived; be the dupe of; fall into a trap; swallow the bait, nibble at the bait; bite, catch a Tartar.

Food

Verb: eat, feed, fare, devour, swallow, take; gulp, bolt, snap; fall to; despatch, dispatch; discuss; take down, get down, gulp down; lay in, tuck in; lick, pick, peck; gormandize; bite, champ, munch, cranch, craunch, crunch, chew, masticate, nibble, gnaw, mumble.

Willingness

Swallow the bait, nibble at the bait; gorge the hook; have no scruple of, make no scruple of; make no bones of; jump at, catch at; meet halfway; volunteer.

Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus.

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.

Crosswords: Nibble

English words defined with "nibble": Knabble, KnappleNibbled, NibblingSheepbite. (references)
Specialty definitions using "nibble": binary coded decimal, bit bashing, bit diddling, bit twiddlingEmbalmNibble Mode DRAMSynchronous Dynamic Random Access Memorytayste. (references)
Etymologies containing "nibble": Sheepbite. (references)

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Modern Usage: Nibble

DomainUsage

Tongue Twisters

How much can can a cannibal nibble, if a cannibal can nibble can? (references; author: unknown)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Commercial Usage: Nibble

DomainTitle

Books

  • 125 Cookies to Bake, Nibble, and Savor (reference)

  • Nibble Nibble: Poems for Children (Young Scott Books) (reference)

  • Nibble, Nibble, Jenny Archer (reference)

  • Taste and See: A Nibble at a Time (reference)

  • The Great American Sex Diet: Where the Only Thing You Nibble On... Is Your Partner! (reference)

    (more book examples)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Non-Fiction Usage: Nibble

SubjectTopicQuote

Lexicography

Devil's Dictionary

EMBALM, v.i. To cheat vegetation by locking up the gases upon which it feeds. By embalming their dead and thereby deranging the natural balance between animal and vegetable life, the Egyptians made their once fertile and populous country barren and incapable of supporting more than a meagre crew. The modern metallic burial casket is a step in the same direction, and many a dead man who ought now to be ornamenting his neighbor's lawn as a tree, or enriching his table as a bunch of radishes, is doomed to a long inutility. We shall get him after awhile if we are spared, but in the meantime the violet and rose are languishing for a nibble at his glutoeus maximus.

Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits.

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Usage Frequency: Nibble

"Nibble" is generally used as a lexical verb (infinitive) -- approximately 50.62% of the time. "Nibble" is used about 81 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted)
Parts of SpeechPercentUsage per
100 Million Words
Rank in English
Lexical Verb (infinitive)50.62%4153,521
Noun (singular)33.33%2766,962
Lexical Verb (base form)14.81%12101,599
Noun (proper)1.23%1339,140
                    Total100.00%81N/A

Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.

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Expression: Nibble

Expressions using "nibble": nibble at nibble Mode DRAM nibble off. Additional references.

Hypenated Usage

Ending with "nibble": tooth-nibble.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Frequency of Internet Keywords: Nibble

The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com.
 
ExpressionFrequency
per Day

nibble

119

game nibble

17

nibble tactic

5

nibble play

4

magazine nibble

3

download nibble

3

bit nibble

3

qbasic nibble

3

crappie nibble

2

nibble nikki

2

nibble note

2

nibble snake

2

nibble online

2

nibble tiny

2
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Modern Translations: Nibble

Language Translations for "nibble"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses.

Albanian

  

ndukje (pluck, pull, yank), nduk (nip, pinch, pluck), rënie në grep, kafshon lehtë, ha çikë-çikë, cimbisje (pinch), cimbis (pinch), brejtje (corrosion, crunch, edacity, gnawing, qualm), brej (canker, corrode, crunch, eat away, eat up, fret, gnaw), bie në grep (bite). (various references)

   

Arabic 

  

‏قضم (bite, bite into, bite nails, bite off, biting, champ, chew, crush, gnaw, munch, prey, snap, worry at), ‏قرض (advance, fret, gnaw, loan, loaning, niggle), ‏عض (bitch, bite, champ, nip, pain, snap), ‏عاب (carp, fault, find fault, pick holes in, reproach, stain), ‏إنتقد (carp, criticize, fault, find fault, lace, maul, peck, quarrel, slash, slate, snipe, stricture, taking apart, upbraid), ‏أكل مصغرا لقمته. (various references)

   

Bulgarian 

  

хрупкане, хрупкам, хапя (bite, nip, savage, worry), хапка (morsel, mouthful, nip, taste, tidbit, titbit), хапане, кълване (rise), кълва (cram, dab, mug, pick), критикувам (animadvert, bad-mouth, crab, criticize, fault, pick at, run down), гризане, гриза (fret, gnaw), отхапвам си, малко количество (bit, dab, dash, dollop, dreg, dribblet, drop, jot, modicum, pennyworth, relish, scantling, smatter, soupcon, sprinkling, thimbleful, tot, trickle), заяждам се (altercate, carp, cavil, niggle, quibble). (various references)

   

Chinese 

  

輕' , (Nibbled, Nibbling). (various references)

   

Czech

  

pokoušet se, okusovat (browse), oštipovat, kousek (bit, cut, inchmeal, jot, mammock, parcel, part, patch, piece, scrap, shred, wedge, whit), kousíèek (knob), hlodat (gnaw), brát (bite, earn, take). (various references)

   

Dutch

  

knagen (gnaw), knabbelen (gnaw off, nibbling, pick). (various references)

   

Esperanto

  

ronĝi (gnaw), mordeti. (various references)

   

Farsi 

  

مثل بزجویدن , لقمه یاتکه کوچک , گاززدن , اندک اندک خوردن . (various references)

   

Finnish

  

nykiä (bite, jerk, pull, twitch), järsiä (crop). (various references)

   

French

  

ronger. (various references)

   

Frisian

  

kjiffe (gnaw). (various references)

   

German

  

knabbern (nibbling). (various references)

   

Greek 

  

ροκανίζω (gnaw, plane), μικρό δάγκαμα, περιτρώγω (gnaw), ημιψηφιόλεξη, τσιμπώ (bite, nab, nip, pinch, sting, stung, tweak, twinge). (various references)

   

Hebrew 

  

לכרסם (chew, gnaw, mill), ל 'וס (bite into, bite off, inroad, inroads), ל בור (burrow, gnaw). (various references)

   

Hungarian

  

majszolás, harapás (bite, snack), falat (bit, bite, chaw, junk, morsel, mouthful, swallow, tiny bit). (various references)

   

Indonesian

  

sambutan (greeting, welcome), menggigit (bite, scathing), menggerit (gnaw, screech), kerumit (gnaw). (various references)

   

Italian

  

sgranocchiare (crunch, munch, scrunch), rodere; abboccare, morso (bit, bite, nip, pang, pinch, scrap, sting), abboccare (bait, bite, rise to the bait, snap up). (various references)

   

Japanese Kanji 

  

齧る (to bite, to chew, to crunch, to gnaw, to have a smattering of, to munch, to nibble), 食い齧る (to have a smattering of knowledge, to nibble at), 食い付く (to bite at, to hold with the teeth, to nibble), 噛る (to bite, to chew, to crunch, to gnaw, to have a smattering of, to munch, to nibble). (various references)

   

Japanese Katakana 

  

くいつく (to bite at, to hold with the teeth, to nibble), くいかじる (to have a smattering of knowledge, to nibble at), かじる (to bite, to chew, to crunch, to gnaw, to have a smattering of, to munch, to nibble). (various references)

   

Korean 

  

입질 (Nibbling). (various references)

   

Manx

  

shuilgey (pick), shuilgaghey, shuilg. (various references)

   

Pig Latin

  

ibblenay

   

Portuguese

  

roer (bite, erogenous, gnaw, grit the teeth), mordidela. (various references)

   

Romanian

  

nimica toatã (mere pittance), roade (abrade, canker, consume, corrode, crunch, eat, eat into, eat through, erode, fester, fray, fruitage, gall, gnaw, hollow, prey, wear), paşte (browse, crop, depasture, feed, grass, graze), muşcãturã (bite, nip, snap, wound), muşca din, mâncare foarte puţinã, fura (abstract, crib, defalcate, embezzle, filch, hook, kidnap, knock off, lift, make away with, nim, pick pockets, pilfer, pill, pinch, plagiarize, poach, prig, purloin, Raven, reave, snake, steal, thieve), ciuguliturã, ciuguli (nip, Peck, pick, pick up, piddle, preen), şterpeli (annex, bag, filch, knock off, nobble, pilfer, pinch, scrounge, steal, whisk). (various references)

   

Russian 

  

щипать (nip, pinch, pluck, tweaking), чуточка (dram, dribblet, lick, mite, modicum, ounce, relish, smidgen, spot, suspicion, tiny bit), клевать (pick), клев рыбы, откусывать (bite off), откусывание, обгрызать, обгрызание, не решаться (hesitate), покусывать, полбайта. (various references)

   

Scottish

  

spiol (bite, pull asunder, snatch), piol, griob. (various references)

   

Serbo-Croatian

  

zalogaj (bite, morsel, mouthful, toothful), zakerati (carp, crab, nag, scold), grickati (munch), grickanje, glodati (gnaw, knap, mill). (various references)

   

Spanish

  

mordisco (bite, biting, dogs bite, nip, snap). (various references)

   

Swedish

  

nafsa (snap), mumsa (munch), knapra. (various references)

   

Thai

  

เล็ม (nip off, snick), การแทะ (gnawing). (various references)

   

Turkish

  

yeme (ingestion), otlanmak, kemirmek (corrode, eat, erode, fret, gnaw, pick), kemirme (erosion, gnawing), ilgilenmek (be hot for, be interested in, be into, care, concern oneself, deal, do, look after, nurse, pay attention to, see about, see after, see to, take care of, weigh in), dişlemek (bite, tooth), dişleme (bite), ısırmak (bite, bite off, champ, nip, savage, snap, sting). (various references)

   

Turkmen 

  

gemirmek (gnaw). (various references)

   

Ukranian 

  

щипати траву, клювати (bite, dab), клюваня риби, гризти (champ, gnaw, munch, nag, nib, scrunch), відкушувати шматочками, відкушування, обгризати (nib), обгризання, обережна спроба, пробувати (assay, attempt, offer, prove, sample, sip, try), поцупити (nab, nail, nip, pilfer, pull, scrounge, snitch, walk away, walk off, win), потягти. (various references)

   

Vietnamese 

  

sự gặm (champ). (various references)

Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references.

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Ancestral Language Translations: Nibble

LanguagePeriodTranslations
Sumerian3100 BCE-2500 BCE

tukur. (various references)

Latin500 BCE-Modern

adesa, liba, libabant, libabitis, libabunt, libamus, libandum, libane, libans, libant, libantes, libare, libatis, libatoria, libaverint, libaverunt, libavit, libemus, libent, liber, libere, liberis, libet. (various references)

Low German800-1100

nibbeln. (various references)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

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Derivations & Misspellings: Nibble

Derivations

Words beginning with "nibble": nibbled, nibbler, nibblers, nibbles. (additional references)


Misspellings

"Nibble" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: fibble, ibble, inbile, Nabbie, nabel, neble, Neibel, niable, nibbe, nibbil, nibblet, nibblre, nibe, nibel, nible, niblet, nubla, nuble, Sibble. (additional references)

Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references).

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Rhyming with "Nibble"

# of Phoneme MatchesPronunciationWord(s) rhyming with "nibble" (pronounced ni"bul)
4-i" b u lDibble, dribble, Gribble, kibble, quibble, scribble, Sibyl.
3-b u lable, abominable, acceptable, accessible, accountable, achievable, actionable, adaptable, addressable, adjustable, admirable, admissible, adoptable, adorable, advisable, affable, affordable, agreeable, allowable, amble, amenable, amendable, amiable, amicable, analyzable, answerable, appealable, applicable, appreciable, approachable, approvable, arable, arguable, assemble, attainable, attributable, audible, available, avoidable, babble, Babel, bankable, bauble, bearable, believable, bible, billable, biodegradable, bramble, breakable, bubble, buildable, Bumble, burnable, cable, callable, cannibal, capable, changeable, chargeable, charitable, classifiable, cobble, coble, collapsible, collectible, Combinable, comfortable, commendable, communicable, comparable, compatible, compensable, comprehensible, conceivable, confirmable, considerable, constable, consumable, contemptible, contestable, controllable, convertible, copyrightable, corbel, countable, credible, creditable, crucible, crumble, culpable, curable, cymbal, dabble, debatable, deductible, defensible, definable, degradable, delectable, deliverable, demonstrable, dependable, deplorable, deployable, depreciable, describable, desirable, despicable, detachable, detectable, determinable, developable, digestible, disable, disagreeable, disassemble, discernible, discountable, discoverable, dishonorable, dispensable, disposable, disreputable, dissemble, distinguishable, divisible, doable, double, Drabble, drinkable, drivable, durable, eatable, edible, electable, eligible, Embraceable, employable, enable, enfeeble, enforceable, enjoyable, ennoble, ensemble, enviable, equable, equitable, erasable, erodible, estimable, exchangeable, excitable, excludable, excusable, execrable, exercisable, expandable, expendable, explainable, exportable, extendable, extendible, fable, fallible, fashionable, fathomable, favorable, feasible, feeble, fissionable, fixable, flammable, flexible, foible, forcible, foreseeable, forfeitable, forgettable, forgivable, formidable, fumble, fungible, fusible, gable, gamble, Garble, global, gobble, grumble, gullible, habitable, hardscrabble, harvestable, herbal, heritable, hobble, hon, honorable, horrible, hospitable, humble, identifiable, ignoble, illegible, imaginable, imitable, immeasurable, immiscible, immobile, immovable, immutable, impassable, impeachable, impeccable, impenetrable, imperceptible, impermissible, implacable, implantable, implausible, imponderable, impossible, impracticable, impregnable, impressionable, improbable, inaccessible, inadmissible, inadvisable, inalienable, inapplicable, inaudible, incalculable, incapable, incomparable, incompatible, incomprehensible, incompressible, inconceivable, incontrovertible, incorrigible, incredible, incurable, indefatigable, indefensible, indefinable, indelible, indescribable, indestructible, indispensable, indisputable, indistinguishable, indivisible, indomitable, inedible, ineffable, ineligible, inequitable, inescapable, inevitable, inexcusable, inexhaustible, inexorable, inexplicable, infallible, infeasible, inflammable, inflatable, inflexible, inheritable, inhospitable, inimitable, injectable, innumerable, inoperable, insatiable, inscrutable, inseparable, insoluble, insufferable, insupportable, insurmountable, intangible, intelligible, interchangeable, interminable, interruptible, intertribal, intolerable, intractable, invaluable, investable, invincible, inviolable, invisible, invulnerable, irascible, irreconcilable, irrefutable, irremediable, irreparable, irreplaceable, irrepressible, irresistible, irresponsible, irreversible, irrevocable, irritable, issuable, jumble, justifiable, knowledgeable, label, lamentable, laudable, laughable, leasable, legible, liable, libel, likable, likeable, livable, lovable, malleable, manageable, mandible, maneuverable, marble, marketable, measurable, memorable, microwavable, miscible, miserable, mislabel, mobile, moldable, movable, mumble, navigable, negligible, negotiable, nimble, noble, noncallable, nonconvertible, nondeductible, nondurable, nonrefundable, nonrenewable, nontaxable, nontransferable, nonverbal, notable, noticeable, objectionable, observable, obtainable, operable, ostensible, palatable, palpable, parable, passable, patentable, payable, peaceable, pebble, perceptible, perishable, permeable, permissible, personable, persuadable, pitiable, plausible, pleasurable, pliable, portable, possible, potable, practicable, preamble, predictable, preferable, presentable, preventable, printable, probable, profitable, programmable, prosecutable, provable, psychobabble, punishable, questionable, quotable, rabble, ramble, reachable, readable, realizable, reasonable, reassemble, rebel, receivable, rechargeable, recognizable, recordable, recoverable, recyclable, redeemable, redouble, redoubtable, reducible, refundable, regrettable, relabel, reliable, remarkable, removable, renewable, rentable, repairable, repayable, repeatable, replaceable, reportable, reprehensible, reputable, resealable, resemble, resettable, respectable, responsible, retractable, returnable, reusable, reversible, revocable, ridable, Roble, rouble, roundtable, rubble, Ruble, rumble, sable, salable, saleable, salvageable, Scrabble, scramble, seasonable, sensible, serviceable, shamble, sizable, sizeable, sociable, soluble, solvable, spendable, squabble, Stabile, stable, stubble, stumble, submersible, suggestible, suitable, supportable, survivable, susceptible, sustainable, syllable, symbol, table, talkable, tangible, taxable, teachable, tenable, terrible, thimble, timetable, tolerable, traceable, tractable, tradable, tradeable, trainable, transferable, transferrable, transmittable, transportable, treatable, treble, tremble, tribal, trouble, tubal, tumble, tunable, turntable, typeable, umbel, unable, unacceptable, unaccountable, unaffordable, unalienable, unalterable, unanswerable, unassailable, unattainable, unavailable, unavoidable, unbearable, unbeatable, unbelievable, unbuildable, uncollectible, uncomfortable, unconscionable, uncontrollable, undeniable, understandable, undesirable, undetectable, unelectable, unemployable, unenforceable, unenviable, unexplainable, unfashionable, unfathomable, unfavorable, unfeasible, unflappable, unforeseeable, unforgettable, unforgivable, ungovernable, unimaginable, unimpeachable, uninhabitable, uninsurable, unintelligible, unjustifiable, unknowable, unlivable, unmanageable, unmentionable, unmistakable, unobtainable, unpalatable, unpredictable, unprintable, unprofitable, unquestionable, unreachable, unreadable, unreasonable, unrecognizable, unreliable, unremarkable, unsalable, unscramble, unserviceable, unshakable, unsinkable, unsolvable, unspeakable, unstable, unstoppable, unsuitable, unsupportable, unsustainable, untenable, unthinkable, untouchable, untraceable, unusable, unverifiable, unwinnable, unworkable, usable, valuable, variable, vegetable, venerable, verbal, verifiable, veritable, viable, visible, voluble, vulnerable, wamble, washable, wearable, winnable, wobble, workable.

Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits.

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Anagrams: Nibble

Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams

Words within the letters "b-b-e-i-l-n"

-1 letter: bible.

-2 letters: bile, bine, bleb, blin, lien, line.

-3 letters: bel, ben, bib, bin, ebb, lei, lib, lie, lin, neb, nib, nil.

-4 letters: be, bi, el, en, in, li, ne.

 Words containing the letters "b-b-e-i-l-n"
 

+1 letter: nibbled, nibbler, nibbles.

 

+2 letters: bindable, bubaline, nibblers, nubblier, pebbling.

 

+3 letters: knobblier, nubbliest.

 

+4 letters: abominable, beblooding, bedabbling, bejumbling, belaboring, blabbering, blubbering, clabbering, clobbering, clubbiness, combinable, flabbiness, knobbliest, obnubilate, obtainable, ribbonlike, slabbering, slobbering, slubbering, wobbliness.

 

+5 letters: belabouring, bobsledding, gibberellin, indubitable, inhabitable, obnubilated, obnubilates, unbuildable, unclimbable.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro.

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Alternative Orthography: Nibble


Hexadecimal (or equivalents, 770AD-1900s) (references)

4E 69 62 62 6C 65

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519; backwards) (references)

American Sign Language (origins from 1620-1817 in Italy and, especially, France) (references)

=

Semaphore (1791, in France) (references)

Braille (1829, in France) (references)

Morse Code (1836) (references)

-.    ..    -...    -...    .-..    .

Dancing Men (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, 1903) (references)

Binary Code (1918-1938, probably earlier) (references)

01001110 01101001 01100010 01100010 01101100 01100101

HTML Code (1990) (references)

&#78 &#105 &#98 &#98 &#108 &#101

ISO 10646 (1991-1993) (references)

004E 0069 0062 0062 006C 0065

British Sign Language (Fingerspelling, BSL; 1992, British Deaf Association Dictionary of British Sign Language) (references)

Encryption (beginner's substitution cypher): (references)

487568687871

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INDEX

1. Definition
2. Synonyms
3. Crosswords
4. Usage: Modern
5. Usage: Commercial
6. Quotations: Non-fiction
7. Usage Frequency
8. Expressions
9. Expressions: Internet
10. Translations: Modern
11. Translations: Ancient
12. Derivations
13. Rhymes
14. Anagrams
15. Orthography
16. Bibliography


  

Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.