lubber

[ luhb-er ]

noun

1. a big, clumsy, stupid person; lout.
2. an awkward or unskilled sailor; landlubber.

adjective

1. clumsy; stupid; lubberly.

verb (used without object)

1. to behave like a lubber, especially in the handling of a boat.

lubber

/ ˈlʌbə /

noun

1. a big, awkward, or stupid person
2. See landlubber
   short for landlubber

Derived Forms

• ˈlubberly, adjectiveadverb
• ˈlubberliness, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of lubber¹

First recorded in 1325–75, lubber is from the Middle English word lobre. See lob ¹, -er ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of lubber¹

C14 lobre, probably from Scandinavian. See lob ¹

Example Sentences

“And now for some rope-pie for the stubborn young lubber,” said the skipper, lifting a bit of rope as he spoke.

From Project Gutenberg

Get out of my sight and take your hands out of your pockets, you insolent little lubber.

From Project Gutenberg

While he had winked his eyes, so it seemed to him, the true course had fairly straddled away from the lubber line.

From Project Gutenberg

I've been a listenin' to you and that lubber that doesn't know a whale's a fish, and it looks squally to me.

From Project Gutenberg

Her master, as Griggs remarked, "was no d—d slouching lubber, and knew a yardarm from a rattan cane."

From Project Gutenberg