Dottle
/ˈdɒtəl/noun
The small plug or residue of tobacco left in the bowl of a smoking pipe after use.
Did you know?Pipe smokers traditionally remove dottle with a specialized tool, because compacted residue can retain moisture and make the next smoke taste harsh.
Etymological Timeline
Early Modern English
English
dot
“A small spot, point, or speck; the probable base of dottle, though dot’s deeper origin is uncertain.”
18th Century
English
dottle
“A small remnant or piece, apparently formed from dot with a diminutive ending.”
19th Century
English
dottle
“The tobacco residue left in a pipe after smoking; recorded in this specialized sense by the early 1800s.”
Modern English
English
dottle
“The spent plug of tobacco remaining in a pipe bowl.”