1. v. & n.
--v. (dabbed, dabbing)
1. tr. press (a surface) briefly with a cloth, sponge, etc., without rubbing, esp. in cleaning or to apply a substance.
2 tr. press (a sponge etc.) lightly on a surface.
3 tr. (foll. by on) apply (a substance) by dabbing a surface.
4 intr. (usu. foll. by at) aim a feeble blow; tap.
5 tr. strike lightly; tap.
--n.
1. a brief application of a cloth, sponge, etc., to a surface without rubbing.
2 a small amount of something applied in this way (a dab of paint).
3 a light blow or tap.
4 (in pl.) Brit. sl. fingerprints.
Derivatives:
dabber n.
Etymology: ME, imit. 2. n. any flat-fish of the genus Limanda.
Etymology: 15th c.: orig. unkn. 3. adj. esp. Brit. colloq.
Phrases and idioms:
dab hand (usu. foll. by at) a person especially skilled (in) (a dab hand at cooking).
Etymology: 17th c.: orig. unkn.