wimble

American  

[wim-buhl] / ˈwɪm bəl /

noun

1. a device used especially in mining for extracting the rubbish from a bored hole.

2. a marbleworker's brace for drilling.

3. any of various other instruments for boring.

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verb (used with object)

wimbled, wimbling

1. to bore or perforate with or as if with a wimble.

wimble British  

/ ˈwɪmbəl /

noun

1. any of a number of hand tools, such as a brace and bit or a gimlet, used for boring holes

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verb

1. to bore (a hole) with or as if with a wimble

Etymology

Origin of wimble

1250–1300; Middle English < Middle Dutch or Middle Low German wimmel auger; see gimlet

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

wimble wimbling

A wimble is a long tool, like a great gimlet, with a cross handle, with which you turn it like a screw.

From Ranald Bannerman's Boyhood by George MacDonald

It may be mentioned that on some of the bindings of his quarto volumes the broken pitcher is transversed by the wimble or toret—an obvious pun on his name.

From Printers' Marks A Chapter in the History of Typography by W. (William) Roberts

Allister was staring into the fire, fancying he saw the whorls of the wimble heating in it.

From Ranald Bannerman's Boyhood by George MacDonald

At his back he carried by a looped strap a rush basket, from which protruded at one end the crutch of a hay-knife, a wimble for hay-bonds being also visible in the aperture.

From The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy

A wimble, or instrument for boring holes for bolts, tree-nails, and other purposes.

From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Sir Edward Belcher

"Tending thrashing-machine and wimbling haybonds, and saying 'Hoosh!' to the cocks and hens when they go upon your seeds, and planting Early Flourballs and Thompson's Wonderfuls with a dibble."

From Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy

Elizabeth had latterly been accustomed of an afternoon to present a cup of cider or ale and bread-and-cheese to Nance Mockridge, who worked in the yard wimbling hay-bonds.

From The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy

"Tending thrashing-machine and wimbling haybonds, and saying "Hoosh!" to the cocks and hens when they go upon your seeds and planting Early Flourballs and Thompson's Wonderfuls with a dibble."

From Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy