Source etymology 1 · variant 1/2
Original entry ↗To press lightly in a repetitive motion with a soft object without rubbing. · To apply a substance in this way. · To strike by a thrust; to hit with a sudden blow or thrust. · To apply hash oil to a heated surface for the purpose of efficient combustion.
With a dab, or sudden contact.
From Middle English dabben (“to strike”), probably of North Germanic origin, related to Old Icelandic dabba (“to tap, slap”), perhaps ultimately imitative. Compare also with Middle Dutch dabben (“to pinch, knead, fumble, dabble”) (Dutch dabben (“(of a horse) to stamp with the forelegs”)), Dutch deppen (“to dab”), possibly German tappen (“to fumble, grope”). The noun is from Middle English dabbe (“a strike, blow”), from the verb. Related to tap. Compare also drub, dub. African-American sense of “playful box” perhaps influenced by dap (“fistbump”).
Relationships mentioned by the source
These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.
This page abbreviates 2 auxiliary source items. The etymology narrative is not shortened. Omission counts are available in the audit fields below; consult the original for complete auxiliary material.
Inspect preserved source fields
Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.
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"3": "dabben",
"4": "",
"5": "to strike"
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"expansion": "Middle English dabben (“to strike”)"
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"3": "",
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"To press lightly in a repetitive motion with a soft object without rubbing.",
"To apply a substance in this way.",
"To strike by a thrust; to hit with a sudden blow or thrust.",
"To apply hash oil to a heated surface for the purpose of efficient combustion."
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"With a dab, or sudden contact."
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