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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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of dabber

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


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

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

In that case the ground is spread on the margin of the plate, if that be wide enough, or on a separate plate, and is taken up by the dabber.

From A Treatise on Etching by Maxime Lalanne

Revarnishing with the Dabber for Rebiting.—For partial rebiting the same result may be reached by applying the ground with the dabber.

From A Treatise on Etching by Maxime Lalanne

Then take up the ink from the ink-slab with the dabber and spread it all over the surface, moving the dabber along with a rocking motion, but not striking the plate with it.

From A Treatise on Etching by Maxime Lalanne

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

From A Treatise on Etching by Maxime Lalanne

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