nugget
UK[ˈnʌɡɪt]US[ˈnʌɡɪt]
n
a small lump of a valuable metal or mineral, especially gold, as found in the earth.
n
a small, solid piece of food, especially chicken, that is usually breaded and fried.
n
a small but valuable piece of information, advice, etc.
Etymology
the origin of "nugget" is somewhat obscure, first appearing in english in the mid-19th century. it is likely a dialectal word, possibly from the english word "nug" meaning "lump" or "block," with the diminutive suffix "-et" added. the term was initially applied specifically to a lump of native gold, capturing the excitement of gold rushes where such small, solid lumps represented concentrated wealth. from this core meaning of a small, solid mass of value, it logically extended to describe compact pieces of food and, metaphorically, to concise pieces of useful information.
Analysis
the word "nugget" is a simplex word of uncertain origin. it does not break down into smaller, meaningful morphemes within modern english spelling.
Examples
the prospector was thrilled to find a gold nugget in the riverbed.
the children's meal came with six chicken nuggets and fries.
his speech contained a few nuggets of wisdom that really stuck with me.