Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Squab?

\Squab\, a. [Cf. dial. Sw. sqvabb a soft and fat body, sqvabba a fat woman, Icel. kvap jelly, jellylike things, and and E. quab.] 1. Fat; thick; plump; bulky. Nor the squab daughter nor the wife were nice. --Betterton. 2. Unfledged; unfeathered; as, a squab pigeon. --King.
\Squab\, n. 1. (Zo["o]l.) A neatling of a pigeon or other similar bird, esp. when very fat and not fully fledged. 2. A person of a short, fat figure. Gorgonious sits abdominous and wan, Like a fat squab upon a Chinese fan. --Cowper. 3. A thickly stuffed cushion; especially, one used for the seat of a sofa, couch, or chair; also, a sofa. Punching the squab of chairs and sofas. --Dickens. On her large squab you find her spread. --Pope.
\Squab\, adv. [Cf. dial. Sw. squapp, a word imitative of a splash, and E. squab fat, unfledged.] With a heavy fall; plump. [Vulgar] The eagle took the tortoise up into the air, and dropped him down, squab, upon a rock. --L'Estrange.
\Squab\, v. i. To fall plump; to strike at one dash, or with a heavy stroke. [Obs.]