squab

[ skwob ]

noun

, plural squabs, squab.

1. a nestling pigeon, especially a domesticated one raised to an age of about 30 days for its flesh.
2. Cooking. the flesh of the squab, used as food:

   Our squab was served with a butter and raisin sauce.

3. a short, stout person.
4. a thickly stuffed, soft cushion.

adjective

1. short and thick or broad.
2. (of a bird) unfledged or newly hatched.

squab

/ skwɒb /

noun

1. a young unfledged bird, esp a pigeon
2. a short fat person
3. 1. a well-stuffed bolster or cushion
   2. a sofa

adjective

1. (of birds) recently hatched and still unfledged
2. short and fat

Derived Forms

• ˈsquabby, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of squab¹

First recorded in 1630–40; probably from Scandinavian; compare Swedish dialect skvabb “loose, fat flesh,” skvabba “fat woman,” Norwegian skvabb “soft wet mass”

Word History and Origins

Origin of squab¹

C17: probably of Germanic origin; compare Swedish dialect sqvabb flabby skin, sqvabba fat woman, German Quabbe soft mass, Norwegian kvabb mud

Example Sentences

Spoon a few dots of jus around the squab and sprinkle a pinch of vadouvan spice onto the plate.

From The Daily Beast

Remove the squab breasts from the marinade and place on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil.

From The Daily Beast

Transfer half of the sauce to a resealable bag and add the squab breasts, turning them to coat.

From The Daily Beast

Not to mention one out of squab, peanut butter and jelly, red quinoa, and karela.

From The Daily Beast

She stood for a moment at the door—then, her finger on her lips, she stole to a seat on the squab near Bessy.

From Project Gutenberg

The squab young we brought down and placed on the grass-plot, where they tumbled about, and were as helpless as a new-born child.

From Project Gutenberg

One hundred nests will often be found upon a single tree, and in each nest there is but one “squab.”

From Project Gutenberg

Its great prolificacy, strong constitution, quick growth, and large size make it a favorite with squab growers.

From Project Gutenberg

Near large cities where the demand for squabs is good, squab growing on a large scale is sometimes successful.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• buffer
• headrest
• mat