nebule

From Latin nebula (“little cloud, mist”), though the first sense ("a decorative wavy pattern", as a noun) is perhaps a misunderstanding of the adjective nebulé (“wavy”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈnɛbjuːl/

nebule (plural nebules)

1. A decorative wavy or curly pattern; moulding of an undulating or wavy form.
   • 1836, Henry Gally Knight, An Architectural Tour in Normandy: With Some Remarks on Norman Architecture, page 199:

     The most common mouldings are the billet, the nail-head, the chevron, the zig-zag or embattled frette, hatchet, nebule, star, rope, beak-head, dog-tooth, and, occasionally, different sorts of foliage, as the vine […]

   • 1848, Benjamin Webb, Sketches of Continental Ecclesiolgy, Or, Church Notes in Belgium, Germany and Italy, page 45:

     The nave and aisles and west transept have a nebule corbel-tabling under the eaves. The aisle windows are large octofoiled circles. A huge square tower rises over the middle bay of the west transept. On each side are two large Middle-Pointed windows of three lights, […]

   • 1861, Herbert Haines, A Manual of Monumental Brasses:

     They consisted of cauls or close caps, in the last instance made of net-work, in which the hair was confined round the face, and sometimes allowed to fall on the shoulders also; the ornamented fronts of the nebule and zigzag headdresses which are seen on brasses are probably intended to represent frills.

   • 1898, Arthur Dimock, The Cathedral Church of Southwell, page 61:

     They have plain square bases; and the round capitals, of no great projection, have mouldings different in the different pillars, in their way as interesting a piece of detail as an in the minster. The first on the south side, reconing from the west, and the last on the north have the cable, and the others the lozenge, nebule, and hatchet. But most remarkable is the fifth on the south side with a series of four—the beaded cable, lotus leaf, triple nebule, and lozenge.

   • 2012, Mrs. Charles H. Ashdown, British Costume from Earliest Times to 1820:

     The period of the nebule head-dress trends somewhat upon the reign of the succeeding monarch, inasmuch as it lasted from 1350 to 1380.

2. A single dose intended to be taken using a nebulizer.
   • 2012, Douglas J. Ball, Daniel L. Norwood, Cheryl L. M. Stults, Leachables and Extractables Handbook, page 82:

     For exaample, leachables from glues used to apply labels to the outer wraps of nebule formulations were being found inside the nebule formulation.

   • 2013, Angus C. Cameron, Richard P. Widmer, Handbook of Pediatric Dentistry:

     Place contents of nebule in bottom of nebule bowl, fix to face mask and apply oxygen or air to mask at 6–8 L/min flow rate.

   • 2023, William E. Berger, Tonya A. Winders, Asthma For Dummies, page 252:

     High dose: 1.25 mg per nebule every 6 to 8 hours if symptoms are acute or unresponsive to low dose.

nebule (not comparable)

1. (heraldry) Alternative form of nebulé, nebuly
   • 1755, John Guillim, The British Banner Display'd, page 234:

     Barry nebule of ſix Pieces, Argent and Gules; pertained to Sir Richard Damery, a Baron in the Days of King Ed. 3.

   • 1791, Sir Egerton Brydges, The Topographer:

     His arms are broken off, but may be conjectured to be a crosse nebule.·

   • 1846, William Newton, A Display of Heraldry, page 65:

     Barry nebule of six, or and sable, is borne by the ancient and noble family of Blount; Barry nebule of six, or and gules, by the name of Lovell; Barry nebule of six, azure and argent, by the name of Dolesby; Barry nebule of ten, argent and azure, by the name of Straiton. Paley nebule, chevronny nebule, and bendy nebule sometimes occur, but they are mostly in foreign shields of arms, and are but seldom seen.

nebule

1. dimly

• nebulo

nebule f

1. plural of nebula

Compare French nébule. See nebula.

nebule (plural nebules)

1. A little cloud.
   • c. 1415-1430, John Lydgate, Ballade in Commendation of Our Lady

     O light without nebule.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)