The Collaborative International Dictionary
Gribble \Grib"ble\, n. [Cf. Prov. E. grib to bite.] (Zo["o]l.) A small marine isopod crustacean ( Limnoria lignorum or Limnoria terebrans), which burrows into and rapidly destroys submerged timber, such as the piles of wharves, both in Europe and America.
Wiktionary
n. Any of various wood-boring marine crustaceans of the genus (taxlink Limnoria genus noshow=1), especially (taxlink Limnoria lignorum species noshow=1), which cause damage to underwater wooden structures.
Wikipedia
A gribble /ˈgɹɪbəl/ (or gribble worm) is any of about 56 species of marine isopod from the family Limnoriidae. They are mostly pale white and small ( long) crustaceans, although Limnoria stephenseni from subantarctic waters can reach .
A gribble is a marine isopod from the family Limnoriidae.
Gribble may also be a family name of British origins. Notable persons with the surname include:
- Bernard Gribble (1927–2004), British film editor
- B. F. Gribble (1872–1962), British marine artist
- Dale Gribble, fictional character from the animated series King of the Hill
- David Gribble, Australian cinematographer
- Di Gribble (1942–2011), Australian publisher
- Gabrielle Gribble, minor character in the novel The Worst Witch
- Julian Royds Gribble (1897–1918), English Victoria Cross recipient
- Mark Gribble (born 1969) English cricketer
- Matt Gribble (1962–2004) US Olympic swimmer
Usage examples of "gribble".
Finally Gribble made the plunge into the revolving door, and naturally it stuck half-way.
But the night-duty officer was Major Lange and I had to shut Gribble up before his inspection.
Justin wanted Gribble to be a nervous-breakdown outpatient and nothing more.
He also wanted the two medics to report that farmer Yoostin had no family and that patient Gribble should therefore be placed somewhere else, but he doubted that they would go so far.
And he was also wearily conscious of the endless petty inconveniences that would nag him if Gribble balked at every doorway.
With an apologetic smile Gribble lunged through the doorway, eyes shut for a moment.
In his cheerfulness he scarcely noticed Gribble except as the hand on the other handle of the hundred-pound can.
Justin thought, went for a cotton blanket, and spread it over Gribble to keep the flies off his face and hands and went to the road for a final smoke before turning in.
When it was cooked, he called Gribble, who stopped on the porch apologetically until the door was held open for him.
It was then that Gribble asked whether Justin happened to have anything to drink.
Farmers around it had more or less fenced it out with their own wire, but there were gaps like the one Gribble had found.
He stepped in and let Gribble show him a lever, which he pulled, and which lowered the ponderous slab down on them again.
Behind him Gribble followed with a rake and a hoarded ball of twine ends, making bundles they could carry to the barn.
And behind Gribble an approaching figure, tall and gaunt as a scarecrow.
Justin and Gribble quailed before his raucous, righteous anger and authority.