pebbling

English

Etymology

Sense 3 is referencing the courtship displays of Adélie penguins and Gentoo penguins, who present smooth pebbles used for nest building to their partners. Popularized on social media in 2024.

Verb

pebbling

  1. present participle and gerund of pebble

Noun

pebbling (countable and uncountable, plural pebblings)

  1. The placing of pebbles in any of several board games.
  2. A way of graining leather with a ribbed or roughened appearance.
  4. (uncountable) In neurodivergent people, the act of offering small, meaningful gifts or gestures to express affection and establish social bonds. [from 2020s]
    penguin pebbling
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