Comments on: Chibbles http://www.word-detective.com/2010/04/chibbles/ Semper Ubi Sub Ubi Wed, 20 Mar 2013 19:32:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Michael Tweed http://www.word-detective.com/2010/04/chibbles/comment-page-1/#comment-45578 Michael Tweed Thu, 08 Nov 2012 17:10:03 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=3045#comment-45578 The word Chibble refers to the removing of small pieces of a material such as wood. If you were using a knife or chisel to reshape a piece of wood or similar material you would 'chibble away' until you had achieved your objective. The word Chibble refers to the removing of small pieces of a material such as wood. If you were using a knife or chisel to reshape a piece of wood or similar material you would ‘chibble away’ until you had achieved your objective.

]]> By: Doris http://www.word-detective.com/2010/04/chibbles/comment-page-1/#comment-42231 Doris Fri, 13 Jul 2012 17:52:26 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=3045#comment-42231 Who does the "moderation"? Who does the “moderation”?

]]> By: Doris http://www.word-detective.com/2010/04/chibbles/comment-page-1/#comment-42230 Doris Fri, 13 Jul 2012 17:51:46 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=3045#comment-42230 My mother, born in 1903 in Columbus, Ohio, was an immaculate housekeeper and used "chibbles" referring to small bits of paper, fluff, or food spotted on the carpet. My sister and I continued its usage which is now carried on by my daughter in Spokane and daughter in New Orleans. They have passed it on to friends, so I don't see its demise. It comes in handy! There is still a lot of small spillage! My mother, born in 1903 in Columbus, Ohio, was an immaculate housekeeper and used “chibbles” referring to small bits of paper, fluff, or food spotted on the carpet. My sister and I continued its usage which is now carried on by my daughter in Spokane and daughter in New Orleans. They have passed it on to friends, so I don’t see its demise. It comes in handy! There is still a lot of small spillage!

]]> By: Rob http://www.word-detective.com/2010/04/chibbles/comment-page-1/#comment-12725 Rob Sat, 05 Feb 2011 20:50:58 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=3045#comment-12725 The definition that your mother gave was always what I had heard for the term. I remember it being used quite a bit in that context when I was growing up in the Boston area in the 70's and 80's, so there was at least during that time a somewhat widespread usage of the term with the definition meaning "small tidbits or debris". The definition that your mother gave was always what I had heard for the term. I remember it being used quite a bit in that context when I was growing up in the Boston area in the 70′s and 80′s, so there was at least during that time a somewhat widespread usage of the term with the definition meaning “small tidbits or debris”.

]]> By: meike http://www.word-detective.com/2010/04/chibbles/comment-page-1/#comment-4762 meike Fri, 07 May 2010 06:23:55 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=3045#comment-4762 Shnibbles seems to be a logical root to me in case James mom was influenced by German immigrants, bringing their native words into their new language. In German, the word "Schnippsel" or "Schnippel" is used for small leftovers that have been cut off (mostly used relating to paper = Papierschnippsel). Shnibbles seems to be a logical root to me in case James mom was influenced by German immigrants, bringing their native words into their new language.
In German, the word “Schnippsel” or “Schnippel” is used for small leftovers that have been cut off (mostly used relating to paper = Papierschnippsel).

]]> By: The Holg http://www.word-detective.com/2010/04/chibbles/comment-page-1/#comment-4754 The Holg Thu, 06 May 2010 14:16:09 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=3045#comment-4754 Addition: "Schnippel" or "Schnipsel" as a noun can be a small, cut-off piece of anything, especially paper, in German. Addition: “Schnippel” or “Schnipsel” as a noun can be a small, cut-off piece of anything, especially paper, in German.

]]> By: The Holg http://www.word-detective.com/2010/04/chibbles/comment-page-1/#comment-4753 The Holg Thu, 06 May 2010 14:13:12 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=3045#comment-4753 "Shnibbles" reminds me of German "schnibbeln" or "schnippeln" (both variants exist), meaning "to cut" (especially quickly and/or finely) and probably related to English "snip". "Shnibbles" might be derived from the German word, via Yiddish perhaps. A transition "shnibbles" - "shibbles" - "chibbles" wouldn't seem too far-fetched to me. “Shnibbles” reminds me of German “schnibbeln” or “schnippeln” (both variants exist), meaning “to cut” (especially quickly and/or finely) and probably related to English “snip”. “Shnibbles” might be derived from the German word, via Yiddish perhaps.

A transition “shnibbles” – “shibbles” – “chibbles” wouldn’t seem too far-fetched to me.

]]> By: KarenK http://www.word-detective.com/2010/04/chibbles/comment-page-1/#comment-4733 KarenK Mon, 03 May 2010 14:08:19 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=3045#comment-4733 I had a teacher once who referred to such small debris as "shnibbles", and I picked up the term from him. I had a teacher once who referred to such small debris as “shnibbles”, and I picked up the term from him.

]]> By: Steve Dunham http://www.word-detective.com/2010/04/chibbles/comment-page-1/#comment-4679 Steve Dunham Fri, 30 Apr 2010 15:32:24 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=3045#comment-4679 This is just wild speculation, the kind that fuels far-fetched word derivations, but could "chibbles" have been a misspelling or alternative spelling or even an earlier spelling of "kibbles"? This is just wild speculation, the kind that fuels far-fetched word derivations, but could “chibbles” have been a misspelling or alternative spelling or even an earlier spelling of “kibbles”?

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