nybble

nybble /nib'l/ (alt. `nibble') n.  [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}, Apparently this spelling is uncommon
   in Commonwealth Hackish, as British orthography suggests 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' and `quadwords'; some (indicated) have
   substantial information separate entries.
     2 bits:
          o{crumb}, {quad} {quarter}, tayste
     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:
          word (on a 36-bit machine)
     48 bits:
          {gawble} (under circumstances that remain obscure)

   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.