dab

dab
dab1
/dab/, v., dabbed, dabbing, n.
v.t.
1. to pat or tap gently, as with something soft or moist: The child dabbed his eyes with the handkerchief.
2. to apply (a substance) by light strokes: He dabbed the ointment on the rash.
3. to strike, esp. lightly, as with the hand.
4. Masonry. to dress (stonework) with a pointed tool.
5. Western U.S. to throw (a rope or line) in an effort to lasso or catch something: Joe dabbed his rope on the steer.
v.i.
6. to strike lightly; make a dab; pat: She dabbed at the stain on her dress.
n.
7. a quick or light blow; a pat, as with the hand or something soft.
8. a small moist lump or mass: a dab of butter.
9. a small quantity: a dab of powder.
[1250-1300; ME dabben; cf. Norw dabbe shuffle along, walk slowly, G Tappe pat, tappen to feel along, grope]
Syn. 8. pat, bit; dollop, smidgen.
dab2
/dab/, n.
any of several flatfishes of the genus Limanda, esp. the European flatfish, L. limanda.
[1570-80; perh. special use of DAB1]
dab3
/dab/, Slang.
n.
1. Also called dab hand. a person skilled in something; an expert.
2. an excellent or extraordinary person or thing.
adj.
3. expert; excellent; extraordinary.
[1685-95; of uncert. orig.]

* * *

      any of the flatfishes of the genus Limanda, family Pleuronectidae, found in the North Atlantic and North Pacific. Dabs are right-eyed flatfish—i.e., the eyes are usually on the right side of the head. The dab of European waters is L. limanda, an abundant and valuable food fish. It is small, usually under 25 cm (10 inches) long, and light brown, with or without dark spots.

      Other species include the yellowtail flounder, or rusty dab (L. ferruginea), a reddish brown western Atlantic fish with rust-coloured spots and a yellow tail; the yellowfin sole, or Alaska dab (L. aspera), a brownish northern Pacific flatfish; and the longhead dab (L. proboscidea), a light-spotted, brownish northern Pacific fish with yellow on the edges of its body.

      The name dab is also used for such other flatfishes as the sanddab (q.v.) and the American plaice, or rough dab (see plaice).

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • dab — dab …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • Dąb — Dąb …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • DAB — 〈Abk. für〉 Deutsches Arzneibuch * * * Dab: Symbol für ↑ Diaminobuttersäure in Peptidformeln. * * * DAB [de:|a: be:] = Deutsches Arzneibuch. * * * I DAB,   Digital Audio Broadcasting …   Universal-Lexikon

  • dab — dab1 [dab] vt., vi. dabbed, dabbing [ME dabben, to strike, akin to MDu dabben & Norw dabba < ? IE base * dhabh , to strike] 1. to touch or stroke lightly and quickly 2. to pat with something soft or moist 3. to put on (paint, etc.) with light …   English World dictionary

  • DAB B&B — (Рим,Италия) Категория отеля: Адрес: Via Sicilia 235, Виа Венето, 00187 Рим, Италия …   Каталог отелей

  • dab — (v.) c.1300, dabben to strike, of unknown origin, perhaps imitative. Modern sense of strike with a slight, quick pressure developed by mid 16c., influenced by Fr. dauber (see DAUB (Cf. daub)). Related: Dabbed; dabbing. As a noun from c.1300,… …   Etymology dictionary

  • dąb — I {{/stl 13}}{{stl 8}}rz. mnż I, D. dębu, Mc. dębie {{/stl 8}}{{stl 7}} długowieczne drzewo liściaste o grubym pniu i rozłożystych konarach, licznych drobnych owocach zwanych żołędziami, rosnące w umiarkowanej i podzwrotnikowej strefie półkuli… …   Langenscheidt Polski wyjaśnień

  • Dab — Dab, n. [Perh. so named from its quickness in diving beneath the sand. Cf. {Dabchick}.] (Zo[ o]l.) A name given to several species of flounders, esp. to the European species, {Pleuronectes limanda}. The American rough dab is {Hippoglossoides… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Dab — (d[a^]b), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Dabbed} (d[a^]bd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Dabbing}.] [OE. dabben to strice; akin to OD. dabben to pinch, knead, fumble, dabble, and perh. to G. tappen to grope.] 1. To strike or touch gently, as with a soft or moist… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Dab — Dab, n. 1. A gentle blow with the hand or some soft substance; a sudden blow or hit; a peck. [1913 Webster] A scratch of her claw, a dab of her beak. Hawthorne. [1913 Webster] 2. A small mass of anything soft or moist. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Dab — (d[a^]b), n. [Perh. corrupted fr. adept.] A skillful hand; a dabster; an expert. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster] One excels at a plan or the titlepage, another works away at the body of the book, and the third is a dab at an index. Goldsmith. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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