nybble

   [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.

[glossary]
[Reference(s) to this entry by made by: {bit bashing}{byte}{chawmp}{Commonwealth Hackish}{crumb}{deckle}{dynner}{nickle}{playte}{quarter}{tayste}]