nybble

3 definitions found

nybble - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

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

nybble - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  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)
  

nybble - Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003) :

  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.