noun

• (sewing) A pitted, now usually metal, cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, which is used in sewing to push the needle through material.
  "She had worn a hole through her silver thimble, and wanted Owen to repair it."
• (also attributively) An object which resembles a thimble (sense 1) in shape or size.
• (also attributively) An object which resembles a thimble (sense 1) in shape or size.
• (nautical) A metal ring which a cable or rope intended for attaching to other things is looped around as a protection against chafing.
  "To relieve the stern in a measure from the great weight of the [diving-]bell, a short, strong mast was stepped in the usual place, and steeving forward; from its head to the head of the davit was a span, which set up with two thimbles [footnote: A sort of iron ring.] and a lanyard, and the whole was supported by a strong stay from the mast-head to the stern of the boat, and two shrouds on a side, leading forward."

verb

• (intransitive) To use a thimble (noun sense 1).
• (intransitive, by extension) To sew.