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)

dibbled, dibbling

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)

dibbled, dibbling

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

• dibbler noun

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

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

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

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

I saw you always used the right leg to jam down the dibble with, and then you kicked the hole full with the right heel.

From The Boy Settlers A Story of Early Times in Kansas by Rogers, W. A. (William Allen)