Nibble

verb. (old).—1.  To catch; to steal. Also to cheat. Whence NIBBLER (or NIBBING-CULL) = a petty thief or fraudulent dealer: see quot., 1819.

  1608.  MIDDLETON, A Trick to Catch the Old One, i., 4. The rogue has spied me now: he NIBBLED me finely once.

  1775.  Old Song [FARMER, Musa Pedestris (1896), 54]. For NIBBING CULLS I always hate.

  1819.  J. H. VAUX, Memoirs, s.v. NIBBLE, to pilfer trifling articles, not having spirit to touch any thing of consequence.

  1823.  BADCOCK (‘Jon Bee’), Dictionary of the Turf, etc., s.v. NIBBLE. I only NIBBLED half a bull for my regulars [= I only got a half-crown for my share]. There now I feel you NIBBLING: said by thieves when they are teaching each other to pick pockets.

  1823.  GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue [EGAN], s.v. NIBBLER. A pilferer, or petty thief.

  1843.  W. T. MONCRIEFF, The Scamps of London, iii., 1. You are spliced—NIBBLED at last—well, I wish you joy.

  2.  (venery).—To copulate. Also TO DO A NIBBLE. See GREENS and RIDE.

  3.  (colloquial).—To consider a bargain, or an opportunity, eagerly but carefully: as a fish considers bait.

  TO GET A NIBBLE, verb. phr. (tailors’).—To get an easy job.