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jab - 5 dictionary results

jab

  [jab] verb, jabbed, jab⋅bing, noun
Use jab in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
1. to poke, or thrust abruptly or sharply, as with the end or point of a stick.
2. to punch, esp. with a short, quick blow.
–noun
3. a poke with the end or point of something; a sharp, quick thrust.
4. a short, quick punch.
Origin:
1815–25; var., orig. Scots, of job 2

Related forms:
jab⋅bing⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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jab   (jāb)   
v.   jabbed, jab·bing, jabs

v.   tr.
  1. To poke or thrust abruptly: jabbed a knife into the log.
  2. To stab or pierce: jabbed the steak with a fork.
  3. To punch (someone) with short blows.
v.   intr.
  1. To make an abrupt poking or thrusting motion: jabbed at the pickles with his fork.
  2. To deliver a quick punch.
n.  
  1. A quick stab or blow.
  2. Sports A short straight punch in boxing.

[Variant of job2.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Jab

Jab\, v. t. [Cf. Job.] To thrust; to stab; to punch. See Job, v. t. [Scot. & Colloq. U. S.]

Jab

Jab\, n. A thrust or stab. [Scot. & Colloq. U. S.]
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : jab
Spanish: pinchar; golpear,
German: stechen,
Japanese: 突く
More Translations »

jab 
1825, "to thrust with a point," Scot. variant of job "to strike, pierce, thrust," from M.E. jobben "to jab, thrust, peck" (c.1490), of unknown origin, perhaps echoic. Noun meaning "a punch with the fist" is from 1889. Sense of "injection with a hypodermic needle" is from 1914.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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