drib·ble / ˈdribəl/ • v. 1. [intr.] (of a liquid) fall slowly in drops or a thin stream: rain dribbled down the window | fig. refugees from central Europe dribbled into Britain. ∎  [tr.] pour (a liquid) in such a way: he dribbled cream into his coffee. ∎  [intr.] allow saliva to run from the mouth: his mouth was open and he was dribbling.2. [tr.] (chiefly in soccer, field hockey, and basketball) take (the ball) forward past opponents with slight touches of the feet or the stick, or (in basketball) by continuous bouncing: he attempted to dribble the ball from the goal area | [intr.] he dribbled past a swarm of defenders. • n. 1. a thin stream of liquid; a trickle: a dribble of blood. ∎  saliva running from the mouth.2. fig. foolish talk or ideas; nonsense: don't believe a word of that dribble.3. (in soccer, hockey, and basketball) an act or instance of taking the ball forward with repeated slight touches or bounces.DERIVATIVES: drib·bler / -b(ə)lər/ n.

dribble
A. let flow or fall in a trickling stream XVI;

B. (football) work the ball forward with repeated touches of the feet XIX. f. †drib (XVI). modified form of DRIP + -LE 2. With sense B (perh. a different word) cf. Du. dribbelen toddle, trip.