dottle

Definition

A plug or tap of a vessel.

Etymology

From Middle English dottel, dottelle (“a plug or tap of a vessel”), a diminutive of Old English dott (> English dot (“a point”)), equivalent to dot + -le. Related to Old English dyttan (“to stop up, clot”), Dutch dot (“a knot, lump, clod”), Low German Dutte (“a plug”). More at dit.

Example Sentences

• "1892, Richard Oliver Heslop, Northumberland Words. English Dialect Society - Kegan Paul et al. In refilling a pipe, where twist is smoked, a common practice is to save the dottle and put it on the top of the new-filled pipe. "Aw like a baccy dottle to leet wiv.""
• "one hand guards the burning dottle of my pipe from the force of the wind"
• "I clenched my pipe in my right fist and poked at the dottle busily with various fingers, first one then another, of my left hand."