dibble

American  

[dib-uhl] / ˈdɪb əl /

noun

1. Also dibber a small, handheld, pointed implement for making holes in soil for planting seedlings, bulbs, etc.

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verb (used with object)

dibbles, present (3rd person singular) dibbled, past participle, past dibbling present participle

1. to make a hole (in the ground) with or as if with a dibble.

2. to set (plants) in holes made with a dibble.

verb (used without object)

dibbles, present (3rd person singular) dibbled, past participle, past dibbling present participle

1. to work with a dibble.

dibble ¹ British  

/ ˈdɪbəl /

noun

1. Also called (esp Brit): dibber.  a small hand tool used to make holes in the ground for planting or transplanting bulbs, seeds, or roots

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verb

1. to make a hole in (the ground) with a dibble

2. to plant (bulbs, seeds, etc) with a dibble

dibble ² British  

/ ˈdɪbəl /

verb

1. a variant of dib

2. a less common word for dabble

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dibble ³ British  

/ ˈdɪbəl /

noun

1. slang a policeman

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• dibbler
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have dibbled
  perfect
• has dibbled
  perfect 3rd person singular
• am dibbling
  progressive 1st person singular
• is dibbling
  progressive 3rd person singular
• dibbles
  singular 3rd person
• has been dibbling
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• dibbling
  participle
• have been dibbling
  perfect progressive
• are dibbling
  progressive

Past

• had dibbled
  perfect
• dibbled
  participle
• dibbled
  simple
• had been dibbling
  perfect progressive
• was dibbling
  progressive singular
• were dibbling
  progressive plural

Future

• will dibble
  simple
• will have dibbled
  perfect
• will have been dibbling
  perfect progressive
• will be dibbling
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of dibble

1325–75; late Middle English, perhaps akin to dib

Example Sentences

Before I understood how to use my options properly, I used to dibble and dabble with my childhood favorite, Duncan Hines.

From Salon • Feb. 17, 2024

He picked up an orange metal bar known as a dibble, made a small hole in the bare, orange dirt and put the tree in.

From Washington Post • Feb. 13, 2020

The volunteers fanned out over the muddy ground, each pair armed with a dibble bar and a bucket of seedlings.

From Washington Post • Feb. 13, 2020

But I personally like to dibble and dabble and help my teammates make plays, and at the same time make plays myself.”

From Washington Times • Oct. 14, 2015

They would follow the dibbling machine, taking each grain of seed-wheat in succession, guided to the exact spot by the slight depression made by the dibble.

From Round About a Great Estate by Jefferies, Richard