dabster
(ˈdæbstə(r))
[In sense 1 f. dab n.3: see -ster.]
1. One skilled at anything; an expert or dab. Chiefly dial.
| 1708 Brit. Apollo No. 93. 3/2 Ye Dabsters at Rhime. 1770–86 P. Skelton Wks. V. 203 The right dabsters at a sly, or a dry joke. 1824 Hist. Gaming 29 Her..luck at play (for she was a dabster). 1842 Akerman Wiltshire Gloss., Dabster, a proficient. 1888 Berksh. Gloss., Dabster, one who excels greatly. [So in many dialect Glossaries.] |
2. Applied depreciatively: cf. daubster, dabbler.
| 1871 Browning Pr. Hohenst. 389 Lines Which every dabster felt in duty bound To signalize his power of pen and ink By adding to a plan once plain enough. 1892 Idler Sept. 203, I am a very indifferent amateur, a slouchy dabster, a mere artistic sarcasm. |