NIBBLE, verb transitive [from nib.] 1. To bite by little at a time; to eat slowly or in small bits. So sheep are said to nibble the grass. 2. To bite, as a fish does the bait; to carp at; just to catch by biting. NIBBLE, verb intransitive 1. To bite at; as, fishes nibble at the bait. 2. To carp at; to find fault; to censure little faults. Instead of returning a full answer to my book, he manifestly nibbles at a single passage. NIBBLE, noun A little bite, or seizing to bite.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI