The Origin of Thimbles

It is said that thimbles (which are claimed as a Dutch invention) have been found at Herculaneum.

The etymology of thimble is from thumb-bell; as it was formerly worn, like sailors' thimbles, on the thumb.

The Germans call the thimble finger-hut (finger-hat).

A silver thimble is a very small thing; yet it takes more than twenty men, besides a great deal of costly machinery, to make one.

The manufacture of thimbles was introduced into England from Holland, in 1695, by John Softing.