squab Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun flesh of a pigeon suitable for roasting or braising; flesh of a dove (young squab) may be broiled
    dove.
  2. noun a soft padded sofa
  3. noun an unfledged pigeon
  4. adjective satellite short and fat
    squabby.

WordNet

Squab adjective
Etymology
Cf. dial. Sw. sqvabb a soft and fat body, sqvabba a fat woman, Icel. kvap jelly, jellylike things, and and E. quab.
Definitions
  1. Fat; thick; plump; bulky.
    Nor the squab daughter nor the wife were nice. Betterton.
  2. Unfledged; unfeathered; as, a squab pigeon. King.
Squab noun
Definitions
  1. (Zoöl.) 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 adverb
Etymology
Cf. dial. Sw. squapp, a word imitative of a splash, and E. squab fat, unfledged.
Definitions
  1. 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 intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To fall plump; to strike at one dash, or with a heavy stroke. Obs.

Webster 1913