dabber

American  

[dab-er] / ˈdæb ər /

noun

1. a person or thing that dabs.

2. a cushionlike article used for applying ink, as by printers and engravers.

---

dabber British  

/ ˈdæbə /

noun

1. a pad used by printers for applying ink by hand

2. a felt-tip pen with a very broad writing point, used especially by bingo players to cancel numbers on their cards

---

Etymology

Origin of dabber

First recorded in 1780–90; dab ¹ + -er ¹

Example Sentences

She keeps a second pink ink dabber standing by just in case the one she is using to mark the spaces on her bingo sheet runs out.

From Washington Times • Jan. 11, 2015

This forms a dabber, and should have something to hold it by.

From Paper and Printing Recipes A Handy Volume of Practical Recipes, Concerning the Every-Day Business of Stationers, Printers, Binders, and the Kindred Trades by Ford, J. Sawtelle

Another form is called the pelote, which is merely a ball of scraped lint tied up in a piece of linen rag, commonly called a dabber.

From Enquire Within Upon Everything The Great Victorian Domestic Standby by Anonymous

A soft close-textured sponge, or a soft felt dabber, is best for this operation.

From Pottery, for Artists Craftsmen & Teachers by Cox, George J.

The dabber not only equalizes the distribution of the varnish, but also removes what is superfluous.

From A Treatise on Etching by Lalanne, Maxime