I. ˈdab, ˈdaa(ə)b noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English dabbe, probably of imitative origin
1.
a. : a sudden blow, thrust, or slap : poke , prod ; also : peck
b. : a gentle touch or stroke : pat
2. : an instrument (as a center punch) for dabbing or marking something
II. verb
( dabbed ; dabbed ; dabbing ; dabs )
Etymology: Middle English dabben, from dabbe, n.
transitive verb
1. archaic
a. : a strike with a sudden motion
b. : stab , pierce
c. : peck
2.
a. : to strike or touch lightly : pat
she dabbed her eyes with her pocket handkerchief — Rudyard Kipling
b. : to cause to strike
dab a paintbrush against the surface
: apply lightly to (as with a dabber)
3.
a. dialect : throw , thrust
b. West : to throw (as a rope) so as to fasten
cowpunchers could dab their lines on anything that moved — Ross Santee
4. also daub : to dress the face of (stone) by picking or fretting
5. : to apply ink to (a printing surface) with an ink-ball
intransitive verb
1. : to make a dab
she dabbed at her eyes with a … handkerchief — Time
2. : to use a dabber (as in etching)
3. : dabble vi 2
III. transitive verb
( dabbed ; dabbed ; dabbing ; dabs )
Etymology: by alteration
: daub 1
IV. noun
( -s )
Etymology: alteration of daub
1. : daub II
2. : a small amount or portion
a little dab of peas on a plate
3. archaic : a wet or dirty cloth
V. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Anglo-French dabbe
: flatfish ; especially : any of several flounders of the genus Limanda — often used in combination
sand dab
VI. noun
( -s )
Etymology: perhaps alteration (influenced by 1 & 2 dab) of adept ( a dab resulting from incorrect division of adept )
chiefly Britain : a skillful hand : expert
a dab at rationalizing — C.H.Glover
VII. noun
also dabb “
( -s )
Etymology: Arabic ḍabb lizard
: a large spinytailed agamoid lizard ( Uromastix spinipes or related species) of Arabia, Egypt, and No. Africa
VIII. noun
slang Britain : fingerprint