Small chunks or lumps of precious metal found naturally, or small pieces of food, especially chicken nuggets. Can also refer metaphorically to valuable pieces of information or wisdom.
Possibly from English dialect 'nug' meaning lump, first recorded in 1852 during the California Gold Rush. The food usage developed in the 20th century, while the metaphorical 'nuggets of wisdom' usage reflects the value association.
Nuggets beautifully illustrate how language evolves from literal to metaphorical - from actual gold chunks that made fortunes to bite-sized chicken pieces to valuable insights. The word captures our human tendency to treasure small but concentrated forms of value, whether material or intellectual.
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