nugget

noun

1. a lump of something, as of precious metal.
2. a lump of native gold.
3. anything of great value, significance, or the like: nuggets of wisdom.
4. a bite-size piece of chicken, fish, etc., usually batter-fried.
5. Welding. (in a spot-weld) the metal fused.
6. Australian.
   1. a powerful, heavy animal.
   2. a strong, thickset man.

noun

1. a small piece or lump, esp of gold in its natural state
2. something small but valuable or excellent

noun

1. trademark shoe polish

verb

2. (tr; sometimes not capital) informal to shine (shoes)

n.1852, “lump of gold,” probably from southwestern England dialectal nug “lump,” of unknown origin [OED]. Another theory is that it is from a misdivision of an ingot. Transferred sense is from 1859.