nybble

nybble
    n 1: a small byte [syn: {nybble}, {nibble}]
    

nybble
 /nib'l/, 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.
    

nibble
nybble

   <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)