Definition of
Dab
- (noun, act) a light touch or stroke
- (noun, quantity) a small quantity of something moist or liquid
a splatter of mud
just a splash of whiskey - (verb, contact) hit lightly
- (verb, contact) apply (usually a liquid) to a surface
via WordNet, Princeton University
Alternate forms of Dab
Derivations: dab
Hypernyms: apply, put on, small indefinite amount, small indefinite quantity, strike, touch, touching
Origin of the word Dab
- c.1300, "heavy blow with a weapon," from dabben "to strike," perhaps imitative. Modern sense of "strike with a slight, quick pressure" developed by 1590s, infl. by Fr. dauber (see daub). Dab hand is British slang, 1828, from dab "expert" (1691), said to be school slang, of unknown origin. more
via Online Etymology Dictionary, ©2001 Douglas Harper