▪ I. nimble, a. (and adv.)
(ˈnɪmb(ə)l)
Forms: α. 1 nǽmel, 4 nemel, -il, 5 nemyl(l(e, nemble, 6 neem-, neamble, 9 dial. neamle. β. 1 numol, -ul, numel, 5 nymyl, -el, 6 Sc. nymill, 9 dial. nimmel, nummle; 5 nymbyll, 5–6 nymble, Sc. nymbil, nimbill, 6– nimble.
[The α-forms appear to represent OE. nǽmel (found only once), f. *nǽm-, ablaut-variant of the stem (*nem-) of niman to take, nim v. + -el, -le 1. The β-forms represent the more usual OE. numol, -ul, -el (cf. also scearpnumol efficacious), f. the ppl. stem num- of the same verb. The OE. evidence is, however, very scanty, and the word only becomes common after the original sense had been obscured.]
† 1. Quick at grasping, comprehending, or learning; hence, clever, wise. Obs.
| α c 1000 in Napier Contrib. O.E. Lex. (1906) 47 He wearð þa swiðe næmel þurh þæs Halᵹan Gastes ᵹife, þæt on litle firste he oferþeah his mæᵹester on wisdome. 1483 Cath. Angl. 251/2 Nemylle; cavtus; vbi wyse. |
| β a 1000 Gloss. in Wr.-Wülcker 198 Capax, qui multum capit, andᵹetul, gripul, numul. c 1000 ælfric Gram. ix. (Z.) 69 Capax, numol oððe ᵹefyndiᵹ. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 356/2 Nymyl, capax. |
† 2. Quick to seize or take hold of one.
Obs.—1| c 1000 in Napier Contrib. O.E. Lex. (1906) 49 Swa swa deaðes geferan, swa forfleoh þu þæt numele win [L. mordax vinum]. |
3. Quick and light in movement or action; agile, active, swift, rapid.
a. Of persons, animals, or things.
nimble lizard, the common or viviparous lizard.
| α a 1300 Cursor M. 21528 Of he kest al to his serk, To mak him nemel [v.r. nemil] til his werk. a 1400–50 Alexander 1065 Þar was na man so nemyll þat him hit couthe. c 1430 Lydg. Order Fools 108 in Bk. Precedence 83 A biche Nemyl of mouthe for to mordyr A hare. a 1450 Fysshynge w. Angle (1883) 8 Þus schall ye make yow a rode..and hyt wyl be lyȝt & nemyll [1496 nymbyll] to fysche with. a 1500 Sir Beues (M) 2252 Syr Beuys was bothe nemble and wyght And start away from his dynt. 1535 Coverdale Wisd. vii. 24 For wiszdome is neembler then all neemble thinges. 1570 Levins Manip. 208/23 Neamble, agilis. 1828 Craven Gloss. s.v., As neamle as a cat on a haat backstone. |
| β 1470–85 Malory Arthur viii. xxvi. 312 Sire Tristram was lyght and nymel and voyded his hors lightely. 1509 Fisher Funeral Serm. C'tess Richmond Wks. (1876) 304 It [the risen body] shall be more nymble..then is any swalowe. 1529 More Dyaloge i. Wks. 153/2 As the hande is the more nymble by the vse of some feates. a 1547 Surrey æneid ii. 1057 Like nimble windes, and like the flieing dreame. 1587 Fleming Cont. Holinshed III. 1544/2 These were chosen of the strongest and nimblest men. 1609 Rowlands Crew Kind Gossips 3 Swift report hath very nimble wings. 1648 Burrell Cordial 3 Being nimbler then the nimblest of them, he escaped. 1670 Cotton Espernon ii. viii. 409 Those of his followers who were nimblest of Foot. 1725 De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 72 The rogues were too nimble for him and had got to his boat before him. 1782 Cowper Gilpin 78 Now see him mounted once again Upon his nimble steed. 1833 H. Martineau Charmed Sea iv. 53 She..climbed a neighbouring pine like the nimblest of squirrels. 1857 Willmot Pleas. Lit. xv. 82 His nimble hand ranges over the keys. 1875 Buckland Log-bk. 89, I am as nimble as most of them, and a deal nimbler. |
| transf. 1623 Lisle ælfric on O. & N. Test. Pref. 19 Our language is..become the fairest, the nimblest, the fullest. 1742 Young Nt. Th. iv. 807 That hour, so late, is nimble in approach. 1781 Cowper Conversat. 152 Their nimble nonsense takes a shorter course. |
b. Of actions, motion, qualities, etc.
| 1589 Puttenham Eng. Poesie iii. xxiv. (Arb.) 303, I haue seene him runne vp a paire of staires so swift and nimble a pace. 1627 Lisander & Cal. iii. 53 With his nimble strength..[he] lifted them both up from the ground. 1667 Milton P.L. vi. 73 The passive Air upbore Thir nimble tread. 1728 Pope Dunc. i. 183 (Globe), As clocks to weight their nimble motion owe. 1794 Cowper Moralizer Corrected 20 Proceeding with his nimblest pace. |
| transf. 1681 Relig. Clerici 30, I believe the nimble Confession of Nathaniel..was better approved of by Christ, than the..deliberate advances of Judicious Nichodemus. |
c. Of ships: Fast and easily handled.
| 1588 Exhort. Faithful Subjects in Harl. Misc. (1800) II. 100 Look to the amending and new building of ships. Make them strong, light, and nimble for the battle. 1627 Capt. Smith Seaman's Gram. ix. 43 Shee is a nimble ship that in..tacking about will not fall to the Lee-ward of her wake. 1652 Needham tr. Selden's Mare Cl. 77 Antiochus should surrender his long ships..; and not have more than ten nimble Gallies. 1704 Lond. Gaz. No. 4001/3 The Enemy being a more nimble Sailer, got away from her. 1734 tr. Rollin's Anc. Hist. (1827) I. ii. 376 As the Roman galleys..were neither very nimble nor easy to work. |
d. Applied to coins or sums of money, indicative of brisk circulation or return in business; chiefly in
nimble ninepence.
| 1851 Mayhew Lond. Labour (1864) II. 263/1 The ‘nimble ninepence’ being considered ‘better than the slow shilling’. 1860 Emerson Cond. Life, Wealth Wks. (Bohn) II. 351 The farmer's dollar is heavy, and the clerk's is light and nimble. 1883 C. Reade in Harper's Mag. June 94/2 He often sold his purchase on the road, for the nimble shilling tempted him. 1894 Sir J. D. Astley 50 Years Life II. 68 Not a bad instance of the nimble ninepence. |
4. a. Of the mental faculties: Quick or ready in devising, designing, etc.; acute, alert.
| 1589 [? Lyly] Pappe w. Hatchet E ij b, If thy vaine bee so pleasant, and thy witt so nimble, that all consists in glicks and girds. 1600 Holland Livy vii. xiv. 258 Having a subtle wit and nimble head. 1638 Junius Paint. Ancients 62 Invited and drawne on by..their nimble Imaginations. 1665 Boyle Occas. Refl. 31 The faculties of the mind..grow thereby the more vigorous and nimble. 1701 W. Wotton Hist. Rome 270 He was a man of very nimble and dextrous parts. 1839 Ld. Brougham Statesmen Geo. III, Ser. ii. 58 A subtlety so nimble, that it materially impaired the strength of his other qualities. 1885 Manch. Times 7 Feb. 5/5 The less nimble wits and the less educated intellects. |
b. Of persons: Quick or ready-witted.
| 1604 T. Wright Passions Pref., The Italians..become very nimble in the managing all affaires. c 1645 Howell Lett. (1650) I. 253 There was there for the Queen, Gilpin, as nimble a man as Suderman. 1851 Carlyle Sterling ii. v, Every way a very human, lovable, good and nimble man. 1893 Liddon Life Pusey I. 361 Whateley, indeed, was a nimble dialectician. |
c. Cleverly or smartly contrived.
| 1602 W. Fulbecke Pandects 1 A briefe definition and verie nimble, if it be nimbly vnderstood. 1625 B. Jonson Staple of N. iii. i, I do admire this nimble ingine, Picklock. 1751 Johnson Rambler No. 95 ¶2, I was..initiated in a thousand low stratagems, nimble shifts, and sly concealments. 1868 Kinloch Ballad Bk. 29 (E.D.D.), For the nimble trick to the Friar she play'd. |
5. a. Quick or ready
at or
in (or
to do) something.
| a 1591 H. Smith Wks. (1867) II. 144 Judas was nimble to betray Christ. 1628 Feltham Resolves ii. xxxviii. 117, I know, wise men are not too nimble at an injurie. 1633 Ford Broken H. iv. iv, Nimble in vengeance, I forgive thee. 1686 A. Horneck Crucif. Jesus xiv. 342 Make me..nimble in religion without lightness. a 1703 Burkitt On N.T. Luke xxii. 32 Our Intercessor is full as nimble and speedy in our suit for us, as Satan is..against us. |
† b. Of physical agents: Acting rapidly.
Obs.| 1671 Salmon Syn. Med. iii. x. 345 You may give nimble purging Physick. 1683 Robinson in Ray's Corresp. (1848) 138 [Volatile alkalies] destroy those nimble acids. 1744 J. Paterson Comm. Milton's P.L. 288 Nimble mercury or quicksilver dissolved. |
† c. Of actions: Taking place quickly.
Obs.—1| 1707 Mortimer Husb. (1721) II. 332 This is said..to contribute much towards the nimble Precipitation of the Fæces. |
† 6. n. pl. Cant. The fingers.
Obs. rare—1.
| 1621 B. Jonson Gipsies Metam. Wks. (Rtldg.) 619/2 Lay by..using your nimbles In diving the pockets. |
7. In special collocations, as
nimble-chaps (or
-chops), a talkative person (now
dial.); so
† nimble-chop, talkative;
nimble-come-quick a., of rapid growth;
nimble Dick,
dial. (see
quot.);
nimble-fingers, a juggler (
nonce-wd.);
† nimble Jack, an elusive person;
nimble-pimble v. intr. (
nonce?), to behave in a sentimental or trifling manner (toward);
† nimble-tail (see
quot.);
nimble-tailor,
dial. (see
quots.);
nimble Will,
U.S. a slender grass,
Muhlenbergia schreberi, found in the central United States and sometimes used for pasture.
| 1614 J. Cooke Greene's Tu Quoque c, Yes, *nimble-chappes; what say you to that? 1673 Wycherley Gent. Dancing-Master iii. i, How now, Mrs. Nimblechaps. |
| 1662 Hibbert Body Divinity ii. 146 All the *nimble-chop Jesuites..labour in vain to prove Peter prince of the apostles. |
| 1863 Kingsley Water-Bab. viii, The hugest and softest *nimblecomequick turnip you ever saw. |
| 1887 Kentish Gloss., *Nimble Dick, a species of horse fly or gadfly, differing somewhat from the Brims. |
| 1781 C. Johnston Hist. J. Juniper II. 158 Here you, master *nimble-fingers!..let us have some of your tricks to divert us. |
| 1682 Bunyan Holy War 387 Mr. Unbelief was a *numble Jack, him they could never lay hold of. |
| 1927 D. H. Lawrence Let. 6 Feb. in E. & A. Brewster D. H. Lawrence: Reminisc. & Corr. (1934) 115, I feel an infinite disgust at the idea of having to be there while the fools *nimble-pimble at the dialogue. |
| a 1661 B. Holyday Juvenal (1673) 69 The silurus being a vile fish,..I render it, for defect of a proper name for it with us, a *nimble-tail. Ibid. 255 With half a stinking nimble-tail. |
| 1854 A. E. Baker Northampt. Gloss., *Nimble-tailor, a field-pea. 1879 G. F. Jackson Shropsh. Word-bk., Nimble Tailor, the Long-tailed Tit⁓mouse. |
| 1816 D. Thomas Jrnl. 10 July in Travels through Western Country (1819) 168 He pointed out to me a grass, of which I had heard much, known through all the western country by the name of *nimble Will. 1817 S. R. Brown Western Gazetteer 109 This is the short, nutritious grass called ‘nimble will’, which has completely overspred with astonishing celerity, almost every spot of waste or uncultivated ground. 1847 Darlington Amer. Weeds, etc. (1800) 375 Spreading Muhlenbergia. Drop-seed Grass... It is said to be known in Kentucky by the name of ‘Nimble Will’. 1865 Trans. Illinois Agric. Soc. V. 863 The Muhlenbergia diffusa, or Nimble Will, is a common grass, which is rather known as a troublesome weed. 1894 J. M. Coulter Bot. W. Texas iii. 523 Nimble Will... Dry hills and woods, northern Texas and northward. |
8. Comb., as
nimble-brained,
nimble-eyed,
nimble-feathered,
nimble-headed,
nimble-heeled,
nimble-jointed,
nimble-mouthed,
nimble-pinioned,
nimble-spirited,
nimble-throated,
nimble-tongued,
nimble-toothed,
nimble-winged adjs. See also
nimble-fingered, -footed, -witted.
| 1836–48 Walsh Aristoph., Clouds i. iv, Subtile disputes with *nimble-brained men. |
| 1628 Feltham Resolves ii. xxi. 69 His malice makes him *nimble-eyed. |
| 1624 Gataker Transub. 80 This *nimble-headed Doctor wanteth not an evasion for it. |
| 1719 D'Urfey Pills V. 7 Such *nimble Heel'd Witnesses never were known. |
| 1591 Spenser Muiopotmos 121 Being *nimbler joynted than the rest. |
| 1836–48 Walsh Aristoph. 176 note, Before thy *nimble-mouthed tongue-grievousness. |
| 1592 Shakes. Rom. & Jul. ii. v. 7 Therefore do *nimble-Pinion'd Doues draw Loue. |
| 1599 B. Jonson Ev. Man. out of Hum. ii. i, These be our *nimble-spirited catsos, that..will run over a bog like your wild Irish. |
| 1930 Blunden Poems 310 The girls are quicker, more *nimble-throated. |
| 1608 Dekker Belman of London Wks. (Grosart) III. 79 An old *nymble-tongd beldam. 1700 T. Brown tr. Fresny's Amusem. 47 A nimble-tongu'd painted Sempstress. 1836–48 B. D. Walsh Aristoph., Clouds i. v, Bold, nimble-tongued, impudent. 1951 Essays in Criticism I. ii. 165 She [sc. Mrs. Behn]..is nimble-tongued indeed at the expense of a military fop who was ready to damn her play. |
| 1860 Wynter Curios. Civiliz. 138 The grating..is eaten through by this *nimble-toothed burglar. |
| 1591 Sylvester Du Bartas i. ii. 346 [She] doth also feed th' air's *nimble-winged guests. 1960 S. Plath Colossus (1967) 37 Each thumb-size bird Flits nimble-winged in thickets. |
9. a. quasi-adv. Nimbly.
| 1568 Satir. Poems Reform. xlviii. 44 Bayth thik and nymill gais the spwle. c 1600 Shakes. Sonn. cxxviii, Those jacks that nimble leap To kiss the tender inward of thy hand. 1631 Celestina 196 That I may runne away the nimbler. 1683 Moxon Mech. Exerc., Printing xxiv. ¶6 That they may all perform their several offices the easier, lightlier, and nimbler. 1760–72 H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) II. 151, I turned much nimbler back again. Ibid. III. 94, I turned nimble upon him. 1771 Smollett Humph. Cl. (1815) 210 Mr. Micklewhimmen..came running as nimble as a buck along the passage. |
b. Comb., as
nimble-moving,
nimble-shifting,
nimble-stepping.
| 1591 Spenser Teares of Muses 34 The joyous Nymphes..Did learne to move their nimble-shifting feete. 1777 Potter æschylus, Prom. Bd. 21 With light foot now this nimble-moving seat..I leave. 1845 Mrs. Norton Child of Islands (1846) 158 Thou supple-limbed and nimble-stepping slave. |
▪ II. ˈnimble, v. Now
rare. [f. prec.] † 1. trans. To make nimble or supple.
Obs.| 1581 Mulcaster Positions x. (1887) 58 Certaine preparatives for nimbling, and spreding the vocall powers. Ibid. xvi. 75 We thinke it [dancing] beseemeth children best, to enable, and nimble their iointes therby. 1643 Trapp Comm. Gen. xlvi. 5 His joynts oyled and nimbled. |
† 2. To do hastily. With
up.
Obs. rare—1.
| 1612 [see nimbling vbl. n. below]. |
3. intr. To move nimbly.
| 1598, 1640 [see nimbling ppl. a.]. 1827 Clare Sheph. Cal. 64 The squirrel..Who nimbles round from grain to grain. 1938 E. Bowen Death of Heart ii. ii. 191 She nimbled in with the tray. |
Hence
ˈnimbling vbl. n. and ppl. a.| 1598 Marston Sco. Villanie iii. ii. 227 Torquatus, that nere op't his lip But in prate..Of the nimbling tumbling Angelica. 1612 T. Taylor Comm. Titus iii. 5 The priuate nimbling vp of the matter in corners by some Priest or Minister. 1640 in Fuller Abel Rediv., Luther (1651) 46 Conserve with care, what ever is thine owne, Mischance sure footed comes like th' nimbling Hart. |