/ dʒæb; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
( -bb- ) jab (sth) (in sb/sth) | jab (at sth) | jab sb/sth (with sth) to push a pointed object into sb/sth, or in the direction of sb/sth, with a sudden strong movement
SYN prod :
[ vn ]
She jabbed him in the ribs with her finger.
She jabbed her finger in his ribs.
[ v ]
He jabbed at the picture with his finger.
The boxer jabbed at his opponent.
■ noun
1.
a sudden strong hit with sth pointed or with a fist (= a tightly closed hand) :
She gave him a jab in the stomach with her elbow.
a boxer's left jab
2.
( BrE , informal ) an injection to help prevent you from catching a disease :
a flu jab
••
WORD ORIGIN
early 19th cent. (originally Scots ): variant of job prod or stab .