jab

[jab] /dʒæb/
verb (used with object), verb (used without object), jabbed, jabbing.
1.
to poke, or thrust abruptly or sharply, as with the end or point of a stick.
2.
to punch, especially with a short, quick blow.
noun
3.
a poke with the end or point of something; a sharp, quick thrust.
4.
a short, quick punch.
Origin
1815-25; variant, orig. Scots, of job2
Related forms
jabbingly, adverb
Examples from the web for jab
  • The only head punch that a fighter is susceptible to is a jab to the top of the head.
British Dictionary definitions for jab

jab

/dʒæb/
verb jabs, jabbing, jabbed
1.
to poke or thrust sharply
2.
to strike with a quick short blow or blows
noun
3.
a sharp poke or stab
4.
a quick short blow, esp (in boxing) a straight punch with the leading hand
5.
(informal) an injection: polio jabs
Derived Forms
jabbing, adjective
jabbingly, adverb
Word Origin
C19: originally Scottish variant of job
Word Origin and History for jab
v.

1825, "to thrust with a point," Scottish variant of job "to strike, pierce, thrust," from Middle English jobben "to jab, thrust, peck" (late 15c.), of unknown origin, perhaps echoic. Related: Jabbed; jabbing.

n.

1825, from jab (v.). Meaning "a punch with the fist" is from 1889. Sense of "injection with a hypodermic needle," beloved by headline writers, is from 1914.