thimble

n. [ OE. thimbil, AS. &unr_;&unr_;mel, fr. &unr_;&unr_;ma a thumb. √56. See Thumb. ] 1. A kind of cap or cover, or sometimes a broad ring, for the end of the finger, used in sewing to protect the finger when pushing the needle through the material. It is usually made of metal, and has upon the outer surface numerous small pits to catch the head of the needle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mech.) Any thimble-shaped appendage or fixure. Specifically: -- (a) A tubular piece, generally a strut, through which a bolt or pin passes. (b) A fixed or movable ring, tube, or lining placed in a hole. (c) A tubular cone for expanding a flue; -- called ferrule in England. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Naut.) A ring of thin metal formed with a grooved circumference so as to fit within an eye-spice, or the like, and protect it from chafing. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) A kind of black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis), common in America. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The chub mackerel. See under Chub. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Thimblefuls As much as a thimble will hold; a very small quantity. [ 1913 Webster ]

For a thimbleful of golf, a thimbleful of love. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A sleight-of-hand trick played with three small cups, shaped like thimbles, and a small ball or little pea. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Thimblerigged p. pr. & vb. n. Thimblerigging. ] To swindle by means of small cups or thimbles, and a pea or small ball placed under one of them and quickly shifted to another, the victim laying a wager that he knows under which cup it is; hence, to cheat by any trick. [ 1913 Webster ]