v. Obs. Also 6 knable, 7 gnab(b)le, nabble. [dim. or freq. of KNAB v.: cf. Du. knabbelen, LG. knabbeln (G. knabbern), also NIBBLE v.] To bite, gnaw, nibble. Usually intr. or absol. with at, upon. Hence † Knabbling ppl. a.
1567. Drant, Horace, Ep., xvi. E viij. The puttocke from the bayted hooke her knabling neb will spare.
1580. Hollyband, Treas. Fr. Tong, Ronger, to knaw, to knabble.
1612. T. Taylor, Comm. Titus iii. 3. No companie freeth it selfe but a man may obserue some mens names nibled at, and gnabled vpon.
1622. Ward, Woe to Drunkards, Serm. (1862), 159. Take us these little foxes … for they gnabble our grapes.
1666. Harvey, Morb. Angl., ix. 76. Left as a bone for every Readers discretion to knabble at.
1684. Otway, Atheist, I. i. Asses … are always ready to nabble, because it is the certain way to be nabbled again.
