<data> /nib'l/ (US "nybble", by analogy with "bite" -> "byte")
Half a byte. Since a byte is nearly always eight bits, a
nibble is nearly always four bits (and can therefore be
represented by one hex digit).
Other size nibbles have existed, for example the BBC
Microcomputer disk file system used eleven bit sector numbers
which were described as one byte (eight bits) and a nibble
(three bits).
Compare crumb, tayste, dynner; see also bit, nickle,
deckle.
The spelling "nybble" is uncommon in Commonwealth Hackish as
British orthography suggests the pronunciation /ni:'bl/.
(1997-12-03)
Nearby terms:
NIAL « NIAL Systems Ltd. « NIAM « nibble » Nibble Mode DRAM » NIC » NIC.DDN.MIL
