thimble

A pitted, now usually metal, cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, which is used in sewing to push the needle through material.

• She had worn a hole through her silver thimble, and wanted Owen to repair it.

As much as fills a thimble (sense 1); a thimbleful.

An object which resembles a thimble (sense 1) in shape or size.; A thimble or similar object used in thimblerig (“a game of skill which requires the bettor to guess under which of three thimbles or small cups a pea-sized object has been placed after the person operating the game rapidly rearranges them”).alsoattributive

An object which resembles a thimble (sense 1) in shape or size.; A socket in machinery shaped like a thimble.alsoattributive

A metal ring which a cable or rope intended for attaching to other things is looped around as a protection against chafing.

• To relieve the stern in a measure from the great weight of the [diving-]bell, a short, strong mast was stepped in the usual place, and steeving forward; from its head to the head of the davit was a span, which set up with two thimbles [foot
• The rope part is fitted with a thimble in one end, which is connected to the chain by means of a shackle; the other extremity is spliced around a heart, and goes with a laniard, as in the case of bobstays. The splice of the thimble and the

A ring- or tube-shaped component such as a ferrule.

A watch (timepiece).UKobsolete

• One of them had the address, whilst his Majesty was shaking hands with one of his 'Pall-Mall' acquaintances, to slip his hand under his upper tog [coat] and extract his thimble [watch] […]

To use a thimble (noun sense 1).intransitive

To sew.broadlyintransitive