dubbin

American  

[duhb-in] / ˈdʌb ɪn /

noun

1. a mixture of tallow and oil used in dressing leather.

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dubbin British  

/ ˈdʌbɪn /

noun

1. a greasy mixture of tallow and oil applied to leather to soften it and make it waterproof

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Etymology

Origin of dubbin

1815–25; variant of gerund of dub ¹ ( def. ) (in the sense “rubbing or smoothing leather or wood”)

Example Sentences

A constant dread to Tommy when he has forgotten to polish his buttons or dubbin his boots.

From Over the Top by Empey, Arthur Guy

I've seen that dubbin boiling on the beach; there's tallow in it, and tar and resin as well.

From Wanderers by Worster, W. J. Alexander (William John Alexander)

We don't polish steel, but there is a wonderful lot of hard work in rubbing dubbin into all the leather.

From In the Ranks of the C.I.V. by Childers, Erskine

My apartment was therefore clean and tidy, and by the aid of a bit of dubbin I managed to give an air of newness to my well-worn shoes.

From Flowers of Freethought (First Series) by Foote, G. W. (George William)

One day, goin' to his bunk, he found it all topsyversy, hair powder on his pillow, dubbin in his shavin' cup, salt pork wropt up in his dressin' gown.

From In Clive's Command A Story of the Fight for India by Strang, Herbert