Nybble

3 definitions found

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  nybble
       n : a small byte [syn: {nibble}]

From Jargon File (4.3.1, 29 Jun 2001) [jargon]:

  nybble /nib'l/ (alt. `nibble') n. [from v. `nibble' by analogy with


     `bite' => `byte'] Four bits; one {hex} digit; a half-byte. Though `byte'
     is now techspeak, this useful relative is still jargon. Compare
     {{byte}}; see also {bit}. The more mundane spelling "nibble" is also
     commonly used. Apparently the `nybble' spelling is uncommon in
     Commonwealth Hackish, as British orthography would suggest the
     pronunciation /ni:'bl/.
  
     Following `bit', `byte' and `nybble' there have been quite a few
     analogical attempts to construct unambiguous terms for bit blocks of
     other sizes. All of these are strictly jargon, not techspeak, and not
     very common jargon at that (most hackers would recognize them in context
     but not use them spontaneously). We collect them here for reference
     together with the ambiguous techspeak terms `word', `half-word', `double
     word', and `quad' or `quad word'; some (indicated) have substantial
     information separate entries.
  
   2 bits:
         {crumb}, {quad}, {quarter}, tayste, tydbit, morsel
    
   4 bits:
         nybble
    
   5 bits:
         {nickle}
    
   10 bits:
         {deckle}
    
   16 bits:
         playte, {chawmp} (on a 32-bit machine), word (on a 16-bit
         machine), half-word (on a 32-bit machine).
    
   18 bits:
         {chawmp} (on a 36-bit machine), half-word (on a 36-bit
         machine)
    
   32 bits:
         dynner, {gawble} (on a 32-bit machine), word (on a 32-bit
         machine), longword (on a 16-bit machine).
    
   36 bits:
         word (on a 36-bit machine)
    
   48 bits:
         {gawble} (under circumstances that remain obscure)
    
   64 bits:
         double word (on a 32-bit machine) quad (on a 16-bit machine)
    
   128 bits:
         quad (on a 32-bit machine)
    
     The fundamental motivation for most of these jargon terms (aside from
     the normal hackerly enjoyment of punning wordplay) is the extreme
     ambiguity of the term `word' and its derivatives.
  
  

From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) [foldoc]:

  nybble
       
          {nibble}