Lectionary Calendar
Sunday, December 22nd, 2024
the Fourth Week of Advent
Attention!
StudyLight.org has pledged to help build churches in Uganda. Help us with that pledge and support pastors in the heart of Africa.
Click here to join the effort!

Bible Encyclopedias
Thimble

1911 Encyclopedia Britannica

Search for…
or
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Prev Entry
Thietmar of Merseburg
Next Entry
Thiophen
Resource Toolbox
Additional Links

an implement for use in sewing, serving as a protective covering for the finger in pushing the needle through the material worked upon. For ordinary purposes the thimble is a bell-shaped cap reaching to the first joint and is usually worn on the middle finger. It is made of silver or other metal, sometimes of horn, ivory or bone. The sail-maker's thimble or "thummel" is a heavy ring, worn on the thumb, with a disc attached which is the part used to press against the needle. The O.E. thymel, from which the word descends, is formed, with the ,suffix -el, from Hama, the thumb, the protective covering having been formerly worn on that digit. The thumb by etymology means the "thick" finger, and is to be referred to the root tum, to swell up, become thick, seen in Lat. tumere, " tumid," &c. The term "thimble" is used of many mechanical appliances, especially of various forms of sleeve, bushing or joining for the ends of pipes, or shaftings, or as covering for an axle, &c. In nautical usage the "thimble" is a metal ring concave on the outside in which a rope runs; it is a protection against chafing.

Bibliography Information
Chisholm, Hugh, General Editor. Entry for 'Thimble'. 1911 Encyclopedia Britanica. https://www.studylight.org/​encyclopedias/​eng/​bri/​t/thimble.html. 1910.
 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile