What does driblet mean?
A driblet is a small drop of liquid — literally, a single bead of water or other fluid — and, by natural extension, any tiny amount of something delivered piecemeal. The word derives from the verb 'drib' or 'dribble,' meaning to fall or flow in fine drops, combined with the diminutive suffix '-let.' While its literal sense applies to liquids, its figurative sense is the more frequent in modern usage: salaries, news, supplies, or information may arrive 'in driblets,' suggesting a slow, grudging, or inadequate flow. The term carries a faintly critical or impatient connotation, implying that what is being given out falls short of what is needed or promised. It sits slightly toward the informal end of the register yet remains perfectly respectable in journalism and everyday writing, where it offers a vivid, concrete image for scarcity and gradualness.
nounA tiny drop of liquid, or by extension a very small amount of anything supplied or received gradually.
- A small drop of liquid.
- A very small amount or portion of something, especially money or information supplied gradually and grudgingly.
"The tap gave only a thin driblet of water before sputtering dry."
"Only a driblet of sauce remained at the bottom of the bowl."
"The charity complained that government funding arrived in driblets rather than as the promised lump sum."
The plural is common and idiomatic, especially in the fixed phrase 'in driblets,' which describes things arriving in small, successive amounts.
"Rebate checks were issued in driblets over the course of several months."
When funds arrive 'in driblets,' English is picturing them as drops from an almost-empty faucet — a metaphor that dates back centuries.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of driblet
Driblet was formed in English, likely in the seventeenth century, from the verb 'drib' (itself a variant or frequentative of 'drip') plus the diminutive suffix '-let,' which marks something small. It is thus a close relative of 'dribble,' which shares the same root and means to flow in small drops or to move forward in a series of tiny advances. The diminutive pattern echoes other English formations such as 'droplet,' though that word derives directly from 'drop.' The figurative extension to non-liquid quantities developed naturally from the image of liquid trickling out drop by drop.
How driblet is actually used
Slightly informal or literary in tone, but acceptable in general prose. The plural 'in driblets' is the most idiomatic form, often carrying a mildly critical connotation that something is being doled out too slowly or stingily.
Easily confused with driblet
Dribble is a verb meaning to flow in small drops or to bounce a ball, while driblet is the noun for one small drop or tiny amount.
A droplet is specifically a minute physical drop of liquid, whereas driblet more often refers figuratively to a meager portion of something non-liquid, such as money or information.