dingle

Definition

A small, narrow or enclosed, usually wooded valley.

Etymology

From Middle English dingle (“a deep hollow; dell”), from Old English *dyngel, a diminutive of Old English dung (“dungeon; pit”), equivalent to dung + -le (diminutive suffix). Compare Saterland Frisian Dongel (“hollow tooth, cavity”), English dimble (“a dingle, glen, retired place”). Related to dungeon.

Example Sentences

• "Turning to the left and skirting this huge hedge Treebeard came in a few strides to a narrow entrance. Through it a worn path passed and dived suddenly down a long steep slope. The hobbits saw that they were descending into a great dingle, almost as round as a bowl, very wide and deep, crowned at the rim with the high dark evergreen hedge."