| 释义 |
▪ I. dab, n.1|dæb|
In 3–4 dabbe.
[f. dab v.1, both being found c. 1300.]
1. a. A blow of somewhat sharp and abrupt character. b. A blow from a bird's beak, or with the corner or point of anything which scarcely or only slightly penetrates; a thrust as if aiming to strike or stab; an aimed blow. c. dial. A slight blow with the back of the hand or the like, a box, a slap.
1300K. Alis. 2306 Philot him gaf anothir dabbe, That in the scheld the gysarme Bylefte hongyng, and eke the arme. Ibid. 2794 They laughte dedly dabbe. Ibid. 7304 Bytweone you delith hit with dabbe, And with spere, and sweordis dunt. 1706Phillips (ed. Kersey), Dab..also a light blow on the Chaps, or box on the Ear. 1731Swift Mem. Capt. Creichton Wks. 1768 XI. 161, I gave him a dab in the mouth with my broken sword, which very much hurt him. 1748Smollett Rod. Rand. (1812) I. 69 Giving us several dabs with its beak. 1865Dickens Mut. Fr. ii. xi, Making two dabs at him in the air with her needle. 1875A. R. Hope My School-boy Fr. 125 She made furious dabs at him. 1879G. F. Jackson Shropsh. Word-bk., Dab, a slight blow, generally with the back of the hand. [So in N.W. Linc. and Cheshire Gloss.]
d. fig. (cf. rap, poke, thrust.)
1705in Perry Hist. Coll. Amer. Col. Ch. I. 160 Here's another dab upon Govr Nicholson. 1748Richardson Clarissa (1811) II. xx. 140 At our alighting, I gave him another dab. 1820Blackw. Mag. VI. 391 'Tis now an age..Since we have had a dab at any body.
2. A gentle blow or tap with a soft substance, which is pressed slightly on the object and then quickly withdrawn; a stroke with a dabber.
1755in Johnson.
3. a. A flattish mass of some soft or moist substance dabbed or dropped on anything.
1749in Doran Mann & Manners (1876) I. xiii. 293 Putting a large dab of hot wax under the arms. 1768–74Tucker Lt. Nat. (1852) II. 596 We..garnish the rims of our dishes with dabs of chewed greens. 1779F. Burney Diary 3 Nov., How can two or three dabs of paint ever be worth such a sum as that? 1874Mrs. H. Wood Mast. Greylands iii. 32 Fifteen dishes he wanted for his dinner, if he wanted one. And all of 'em dabs and messes.
b. pl. Fingerprints. slang.
1926N. Lucas London & its Criminals i. 7 The finger⁓print system is without doubt the crooks' greatest enemy... The verifying of their ‘dabs’ soon brings their dossier to court. 1947N. Marsh Final Curtain xvii. 263 Bailey's gone over it [sc. a tin] for dabs. 1957K. Farrer Gownsman's Gallows xxii. 183 You'll get his photo and dabs by airmail today.
4. fig. Applied slightingly to (a) a small or trifling amount, as of money given; (b) a slight effort of the pen, etc.
1729Mrs. Delany Life & Corr. I. 453, I had your hasty dab as you call it..your dabs are of more worth to me than folios of letters from any one else. 1735Hervey Mem. II. 13, 3200l. ever since he was King, besides several little dabs of money. 1762H. Walpole Lett. H. Mann (1833) II. 337 (D.) A new dab called Anecdotes of Polite Literature. 1788F. Burney Lett. 29 Jan., I actually asked for this dab of preferment.
5. a. A wet or dirty clout. b. A pinafore. dial.
1714Swift Hue & Cry, Reckon with my Washerwoman; making her allow for old Shirts, Socks, Dabbs and Markees, which she bought of me. 1721Bailey, Dab..a dirty clout. 1837Thackeray Yellowplush i, Wet dabs of dishclouts flapped in your face. 1877N.W. Linc. Gloss., Dab, a child's pinafore.
6. Applied to persons:
a. An untidy woman, a drab.
b. A small child, a chit.
1730–6Bailey (folio), Dab..also a word of Contempt for a Woman. 1797A. M. Bennett Beggar Girl (1813) I. 91 It [Betty] is such an engaging, good-hearted little dab. 1879G. F. Jackson Shropshire Word-bk., Dab, an untidy, thriftless woman. [So Cheshire Gloss.] 1833Sir F. B. Head Bubbles of Brunnen, A little bare-headed, bare-footed dab of a child. 1864E. Capern Devon Provinc., Dab, a chit.
7. See quots.
1758Dyche Dict., Dab..likewise a mangled piece of fat meat goes by this name. 1836Dickens Sk. Boz (1877) 38 Dabs of dingy bacon.
8. pl. The refuse or sediment of sugar.
1858Simmonds Dict. Trade, Dabs, refuse foots of sugar. 1881Daily News 7 Sept. 3/4 Barbadoes dabs, 20s. to 21s... Grenada dabs, 17s. to 19s. 6d.
9. Type-founding. See quots.
1874Knight Dict. Mech., Dab, an impression in typemetal of a die in course of sinking. 1889T. B. Reed (in letter), The common process of producing cast ornaments for printing before the introduction of electrotyping was known in English type-foundries as ‘dabbing’. The original woodblock is dropped sharply into a bed of molten lead on the point of cooling. A mould or matrix of the design is thus produced. To produce replicas of the design, the operator strikes this matrix into lead. The result is a ‘cast’ or ‘dab’ in relief, which when mounted can be used to print along with type.
10. A printer's dabber.
1861W. F. Collier Hist. Eng. Lit. 75 The worker of the press has found the..dabbers..unfit for use..He sits down with raw sheep-skin and carded wool, to stuff the balls and tie it round the handle of the dab.
11. Comb., as dab-pot; dab cricket, a children's pencil-and-paper game based on cricket; † dab-stone, a game with stones; cf. dabbers and dib-stone; dab-wash (dial.), a wash of a few small articles, as distinct from the usual household wash; hence dab-wash vb.
1938L. MacNeice I crossed Minch vii. 98 While reviewing a novel, Mr. Mackenzie had played *dab cricket... He explained to me his system... Consonants mean one; vowels mean two,..a double consonant following a double consonant means that the next man is out for nought. 1946B. Marshall George Brown's Schooldays 115 He was going to continue his game of dab cricket.
1876Browning Pacchiarotto 410 Stick thou, Son, to paint⁓brush and *dab-pot!
1652J. Donne Ep. Ded. in Donne's Paradoxes, Lelius and Scipio are presented to us as playing at *Dabstone before they fought against Hanniball.
a1812Malone in Todd s.v. Dab, *Dab-wash. 1863Mrs. Gaskell Sylvia's L. vi, Having had what is called in the district a ‘dab-wash’ of a few articles, forgotten on the regular day. 1881Richardson in Gd. Words 51 A few clothes that had just gone through a ‘dab-wash’.
¶12. dab is frequently written instead of daub = rough mortar, clay used in plastering, esp. in wattle and dab (daub).
1839Loudon Encycl. Arch. 840 Instead of brick nagging for partitions, cob is used for filling in the framework..This sort of work is called rab and dab. 1881M. E. Braddon Asph. vi. 70 Cottages, with walls of wattle and dab.
▪ II. dab, n.2|dæb|
[Etymology unknown: cf. however dab n.1 3.]
A species of small flat-fish, Pleuronectes limanda, nearly resembling the flounder, common on the sandy parts of the British coast; also used as a ‘street term for small flat fish of any kind’ (Slang Dict.).
1577Harrison England iii. iii. (1878) ii. 20 The plaice, the but, the turbut, dorreie, dab, &c. 1620Venner Via Recta iv. 72 The Dabbe or little Plaice is of the same nature. 1778Pennant Tour in Wales (1883) I. 29 Dabs visit us in November. 1851Mayhew Lond. Labour I. 165 The fish fried by street dealers is known as ‘plaice dabs’ and ‘sole dabs’, which are merely plaice and soles, ‘dab’ being a common word for any flat fish. 1886R. C. Leslie Sea-painter's Log x. 193 A dab or plaice soon getting pale-coloured when lying upon a white surface.
b. Comb., as dab-darter, one who spears flat-fish; dab-fish, flat-fish.
1883G. C. Davies Norfolk Broads xxvi. (1884) 203 In the deeper water the dab-darters are often hard at work..the ‘dart’..is like the head of a large rake with the teeth set vertically. 1876Robinson Whitby Gloss., Dab-fish, all kinds of flat fish.
▪ III. dab, n.3|dæb|
[Appears before 1700; frequently referred to as school slang: origin unknown.
Conjectures have been offered as to its being a corruption of adept, and of dapper, but without any other evidence than appears in the general likeness and use of the words. It is possible that it is a derivative of dab v.]
One skilful or proficient at († of, in) anything; an expert, an adept.
1691Athenian Mercury IV. No. 3 Qu. 8 [Love is] such a Dab at his Bow and Arrows. a1700B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, Dab, expert, exquisite in Roguery..He is a Dab at it, He is well vers'd in it. 1711Vind. Sacheverell 83 The Dr. is charg'd with being a great Dab, as the Boys say, for he plays on Sundays. a1754Fielding Ess. Conversation Wks. (1840) 642 (To fetch a phrase from school..) great dabs of this kind of facetiousness. 1759Goldsm. Bee No. 1 A third [writer] is a dab at an index. 1845Thackeray Punch in the East iv, I wish to show I am a dab in history. 1874Helps Soc. Press. v. (1875) 69, I am ‘a dab’, as we used to say at Eton, at suggesting subjects for essays.
b. attrib. or Comb., as dab hand.
1828Craven Dialect, Dab-hand, expert at any thing. 1870M. Bridgman Ro. Lynne II. iii. 67 He was a dab hand at water-colours. [The comb. occurs in many dialect glossaries from Lonsdale and Holderness to W. Somerset.]
▪ IV. dab, n.4 slang.
A bed.
1812Sporting Mag. XXXIX. 16 Those who had been accustomed to a downy dab. 1812J. H. Vaux Flash Dict., Dab, a bed. 1823W. T. Moncrieff Tom & Jerry iii. iii. (Farmer), Vhen ve've had the liquor, ve'll..all go to our dabs.
▪ V. dab, v.1|dæb|
In 4 dabben, 6 dabbe. Inflected dabbed, dabbing.
[This and the accompanying n. dab1 appear about 1300; there is nothing similar in OE.
Middle and early modern Dutch had a verb dabben, according to Oudemans, ‘to pinch, knead, fumble, dabble’: cf. Ger. tappen to grope, fumble (with the hands, as in the dark); but it is not clear that there is any connexion between this and the English word. Rather does the latter appear to be of independent onomatopœic origin, being, primarily, the expression of the mechanical action in question by analogous oral action, including (but only in a secondary way) the representation of the sound. Cf. dub v., which in some of its senses appears to be of kindred formation.]
I. To strike, peck, stick, etc.
1. trans. To strike somewhat sharply and abruptly. (The ME. sense is not quite clear.)
b. To strike so as slightly to pierce or indent; to peck as a bird with its bill; to pick the surface of a stone (see quot. 1876); to stick or thrust. Now chiefly Sc.
c. in mod. dial. To strike with a slight blow, as with the back of the hand. † to dab nebs: to kiss.
a1307Pol. Songs (Camden) 192 This Frenshe come to Flaundres..The Flemmisshe hem dabbeth o the het bare. 1532More Confut. Tindale Wks. 551/1 The pricke of the fleshe, to dabbe him in the necke. 1630Dekker 2nd Pt. Hon. Whore iv. ii, Let me alone for dabbing them o' th' neck. 1730–6Bailey (folio), Dab, to cuff or bang; to slap or strike. 17..in Jamieson Pop. Ball. & Songs (1806) I. 87 (Jam.) The thorn that dabs I'll cut it down, Though fair the rose may be. 1786Yng. Coalman's Courtship (ed. 20) 5 You may..dab nebs wi' her now an' then. 1876Gwilt Archit. Gloss., Dabbing, Daubing..working the face of a stone..with a pick-shaped tool..so as to form a series of minute holes. 1885J. Runciman Skippers & Sh. 82 One chap dabbed his sticker through my arm here. 1887Cheshire Gloss., Dab, to give a slight blow to. ‘Dost want dabbin i' th' maith’ [= mouth].
d. intr. Of a bird: To peck with the bill.
e. To aim at in order to strike, as in playing at marbles, or throwing a stone at a bird, etc. Sc.
1805J. Nicol Poems I. 43 (Jam.) Weel daubit, Robin! there's some mair, Beath groats an' barley, dinna spare. 1826Wilson Noct. Ambr. Wks. 1855 I. 25 Chuckies..dabbing at daigh and drummock. Mod. Sc. If you go near the nest, the hen will dab at you. Which marble shall I dab at? Some boys dabbing at a cat on the roof of the shed.
2. To strike or cause to strike (usually with something soft and of broadish surface) so as to exert a slight momentary pressure, and then withdraw quickly. The object may be
a. the brush, dabber, etc. used;
b. the moist or sticky substance applied;
c. the surface to which it is applied.
a.1592Nashe P. Penilesse (ed. 2) 13 b, A Painter..needs no more but wet his pencill, and dab it on their cheekes, and he shall haue vermillion and white enough. 1823J. Badcock Dom. Amusem. 143 A common printer's ball..is now to be dabbed on the whole surface. 1863Tyndall Heat viii. §313, I dip my brush..and dab it against the paper.
b.1562Turner Herbal ii. 31 a, Laser..is dabbed about the stynginges of scorpiones with oyle well menged or tempered. 1750E. Smith Compl. Housewife 352 Dab it on with a fine rag. 1833H. Martineau Tale of Tyne i. 8 One who dabs brick-clay into a mould. 1853Reade Chr. Johnstone 109 [It] dabbed glue on his gauzy wings.
c.1747Wesley Prim. Physic (1762) 63 Dip a soft rag in dead small Beer, new Milk warm, and dabb each eye, a dozen times gently. 17..S. Sharp (J.), A sore should never be wiped by drawing a piece of tow or rag over it, but only by dabbing it with fine lint. 1879Newspaper, If the bleeding be too copious, dab the part with a rag wetted with creasote.
d. spec. in Printing, Etching, etc.: To strike or pat with a dabber for various purposes, as e.g. in order to spread colour evenly over a surface.
1759Mrs. Delany Life & Corr. (1861) III. 573, I found one painting and another dabbing. 1799G. Smith Laboratory I. 339 The interstices may be dabbed over with the tincture of that colour which you would have for the general ground-work. 1832G. R. Porter Porcelain & Gl. 300 Holding the brush perpendicular to the glass, every part of the latter must be dabbed so that the surface will be dimmed by the oil. 1874Knight Dict. Mech. I. 673/1 The insinuation [in stereotyping] of the damp paper into the interstices of the letters by dabbing the back of the paper with a hair brush.
3. To set or put down with a sharp, abrupt motion (cf. to stick down); to throw or fling down in a rough, careless, untidy manner.
1772G. Washington in Mag. Amer. Hist. May (1884) 71 They [clothes] will be..dabbed about, in every hole and corner. 1877Holderness Gloss., Dab, Dab-doon..to fling down with violence. 1884Chester Gloss., Dab, to set things down carelessly, not in their right place.
II. Specific senses of doubtful history, or indirect connexion with prec.
†4. Fishing. To fish by dipping the bait gently and lightly in the water; to dap, dib. Obs.
1676Cotton Angler ii. v. 295 This way of fishing we call daping, dabbing, or dibbing.
5. To dibble. dial.
1787W. Marshall East Norf. Gloss., Dabbing, dibbling. 1847in Halliwell.
6. Type-founding. To produce a ‘dab’ in the process of making matrices, etc.
1889[see dab n.1 9].
†7. ? To deceive, jape. Obs.
1616R. C. Times' Whistle vi. 2402 Like the parish bull he serves them still And dabbes their husbandes clean against their will.
8. A modification of daub v., to plaster.
1577Ludlow Churchw. Acc. (Camden) 164 Item, to Humfreis for dabinge the churche house..vj d. 1730A. Gordon Maffei's Amphith. 272 The Steps are..dabbed over with Lime and Mortar. Ibid. 374 Those who in various ways transform and dab over those parts of the Building. 1855Browning Grammarian's Funeral 72 Fancy the fabric Quite, ere you build..Ere mortar dab brick!
Hence dabbed |dæbd| ppl. a., ˈdabbing vbl. n. and ppl. a.
1885W. Rhind's Trade Circular, A beautiful smooth ground, which..will stand the acid bath better than any dabbed ground. 1843Penny Cycl. XXVII. 577/2 The wound itself does not require..washing and sponging and dabbing. 1874Knight Dict. Mech., Dabbing-machine, the machine employed in casting large metal type.
▪ VI. † dab, v.2 Obs.
[Cf. dabby and dabble.]
? To be wet and dabbled, to hang like wet clothes.
1558T. Phaer æneid vi. (R.), I creping held with crokid hands the mountaynes toppe, Encombrid in my clothes that dabbing down from me did droppe.
▪ VII. dab, adv.
[The verb-stem or n. used elliptically.]
With a dab, or sudden contact.
1608R. Armin Nest Ninn. 2 He dropt downe..as heauy as if a leaden plummet..had fallen on the earth dab. 1884Ruskin in Pall Mall G. 10 Dec. 11/1 One who sharpens his pencil point, instead of seizing his biggest brush and going dab at the mountains with splotches of colour. |