bible

Etymology

From Middle English bible, from Middle Latin biblia (“book”) (misinterpreted as a feminine from earlier Latin neuter plural biblia (“books”)), from Ancient Greek βιβλία (biblía, “books”), plural of βιβλίον (biblíon, “small book”), originally a diminutive of βίβλος (bíblos, “book”), from βύβλος (búblos, “papyrus”) (from the ancient Phoenician city of Byblos which exported this writing material). Old English used biblioþēce (from βιβλιοθήκη) and ġewritu (> English writs) for "the Scriptures".

noun

1. Alternative letter-case form of Bible (“a specific version, edition, translation, or copy of the Christian religious text”)
   The bible was used by Presley throughout his life until his death on 16 August 1977 and contains his handwritten notes, thoughts and annotations. Sept 8 2012, Cass Jones, “Elvis Presley's bible sells for £59,000”, in The Guardian
2. Alternative letter-case form of Bible (“the analogous holy book of another religion”)
   The Buddhist bible tells this story of Buddha’s time of temptation when he was living as a hermit on the Mount of Snow. 1925, Etsu Inagaki Sugimoto, A Daughter of the Samurai, page 76
3. (by extension) A comprehensive manual that describes something, or a publication with a loyal readership.
   handyman’s bible
   Computer Lib was written as a popular primer, but its most profound effect was on computer programmers, who needed little persuasion about the value of computers. […] Having set out to appeal to the general public, Nelson managed to publish an insider's bible and highly intimate guide to hacker culture. 1995 June, Gary Wolf, “The Curse of Xanadu”, in Wired Magazine
   For example, Wired—the monthly bible of the ‘virtual class’—has uncritically reproduced the views of Newt Gingrich, […] 1995 September, Richard Barbrook, Andy Cameron, “The Californian Ideology”, in Mute, volume 1, number 3, →ISSN
4. (nautical) Synonym of holystone: a piece of sandstone used for scouring wooden decks on ships.
5. (at certain US universities) A compilation of problems and solutions from previous years of a given course, used by some students to cheat on tests or assignments.
   My friend’s a genius, he will give me problems one through nine. The bible of a sophomore will have the needed lines. 1965, Matt Fichtenbaum, Dan Murphy, “The Institute Screw”, in The Broadside of Boston, volume III, number 22
6. Omasum, the third compartment of the stomach of ruminants
7. (locksmithing) The upper part of a pin-tumbler lock, containing the driver pins and springs.