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THIMBLE

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Originally appearing in Volume V26, Page 850 of the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica.
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THIMBLE , an See also:

implement for use in sewing, serving as a protective covering for the See also:finger in pushing the See also:needle through the material worked upon. For See also:ordinary purposes the thimble is a See also:bell-shaped cap reaching to the first See also:joint and is usually worn on the See also:middle finger. It is made of See also:silver or other See also:metal; sometimes of See also:horn, See also:ivory or See also:bone. The See also:sail-maker's thimble or " See also:thummel " is a heavy See also:ring, worn on the thumb, with a disc attached which is the See also:part used to See also:press against the needle. The O.E. thymel, from which the word descends, is formed, with the suffix -el, from thuma, the thumb, the protective covering having been formerly worn on that See also:digit. The thumb by See also:etymology means the " thick " finger, and is to be referred to the See also:root tum, to swell up, become thick, seen in See also:Lat. tumere, " tumid," &c. The See also:term " thimble " is used of many See also:mechanical appliances, especially of various forms of See also:sleeve, bushing or joining for the ends of pipes, or shaftings, or as covering for an See also:axle, &c. In nautical usage the " thimble " is a metal ring See also:concave on the outside in which a rope runs; it is a See also:protection against chafing.

End of Article: THIMBLE

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