| E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898. |
| | | Dab. | | |
Clever, skilled, as “a dabhand at it”; a corrupt contraction of the Latin adeptus (an adept). “Dabster” is another form. Apt is a related word.
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| “An Eton stripling, training for the law, |
| A dunce at learning, but a dab at law [marbles].” | |
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Anon.: Logic: or, The Biter Bit |
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