▪ I. swabber1
(ˈswɒbə(r))
Also 6 swaber, 7–8 swobber.
[a. early mod.Du. zwabber, f. zwabben: see swab v.1 and -er1. Cf. LG. swabber (G. schwabber) mop, WFris. swabber mop, also roving fellow, vagabond, beggar.]
1. a. One of a ship's crew whose business it was to swab the decks, etc.; a petty officer who had charge of the cleaning of the decks.
| 1592 W. Wyrley Armorie, Capitall de Buz 144 Scarce little chip shall lie vpon the hatch, But for the swabber [he] hastely doth call, Cleane and fine ech buisnes to dispatch. 1598 W. Phillip tr. Linschoten i. xciii. 165/1 The Guardian or quartermaster..hath charge to see the swabers pumpe to make the ship cleane. 1610 Shakes. Temp. ii. ii. 48 The Master, the Swabber, the Boate-swaine & I. 1627 Capt. J. Smith Seaman's Gram. viii. 36 The Swabber is to wash and keepe cleane the ship and maps. 1653 Gauden Hierasp. 114 By driving the skilful Pilots..from the Helm, and putting in their places every bold Boatswain, and simple Swobber. 1755 Connoisseur No. 84. 507 It is beneath the dignity of the British Flag to have an Admiral behave as rudely as a Swabber, or a Commodore as foul-mouthed as a Boatswain. 1769 Falconer Dict. Marine (1780), Swabber, ship's sweeper, usually called captain's swabber. 1803 Royal Proclam. 7 July, Gunsmiths, Coopers, Swabbers. 1834 W. Ind. Sk. Bk. i. 34 A staunch crew too, none of your swabbers and afterguard, able seamen every man on 'em. 1864 E. A. Parkes Pract. Hygiene 582 The swabbers, who clean the between-decks, thoroughly ventilate, &c. |
b. transf. One who uses a mop or cleans up.
| 1720–1 Lett. fr. Mist's Jrnl. (1722) II. 309 Prince Cerberus his Groom of the Stool wants a Swobber. 1931 [see roach-powder s.v. roach n.4 4]. |
2. One who behaves like a sailor of low rank; a low or unmannerly fellow; a term of contempt. (Cf. swab n.1 2 b.)
| 1609 B. Jonson Sil. Wom. iv. iv, How these swabbers talke! 1610 ― Alch. iv. vii, Doe not beleeue him, sir: He is the lying'st Swabber! 1769 R. Cumberland Brothers in Brit. Theat. (1808) XVIII. 27 Ridiculous! a poor, beggarly, swabber truly. [1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Sea⁓swabber, a reproachful term for an idle sailor.] |
3. A mop or swab; spec. a kind of mop for cleaning ovens.
| 1607 Dekker Knt.'s Conjur. viii. I iij, [Charon loq.] Their ragges serued to make me Swabbers. a 1625 Fletcher Woman's Prize iii. i, Nothing but brayded haire, and penny riband, Glove, garter, ring, rose, or at best a swabber. 1857 Wright Dict. Obs. & Prov. Engl., Swabber,..a kind of broom. |
4. attrib.: † swabber-slops, ? a sailor's wide breeches or garments resembling them.
| a 1658 Cleveland Cl. Vind. Poems (1677) 101 List him a Writer, and you smother Geoffry in Swabber-slops. 1661 K. W. Conf. Charac., Old Hording Hagg (1860) 90 Her swetty toes,..the things contained in these swabberslops. |
▪ II. swabber2 Obs. exc. Hist. or dial.
(ˈswɒbə(r))
Also 8–9 swobber.
[perh. the same word as prec. Cf. swab n.2]
Chiefly pl. Certain cards at the game of whist (see first quot.), which entitled the holder to part of the stakes. whisk and swabbers: a form of the game in which these cards were so used.
| a 1700 B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, Swabbers, the Ace of Hearts, Knave of Clubs, Ace and Duce of Trumps. 1704 T. Baker Act at Oxf. iii. ii. 33 We'll sit down to Ombre, Picquet, Wisk, and Swabbers. 1728 Swift Intelligencer No. 5 ¶7 His Grace said, he had heard that the Clergy-Man used to play at Whisk and Swobbers; that as to playing now and then a sober Game at Whisk for Pastime, it might be pardoned, but he could not digest those wicked Swobbers. 1772 Test Filial Duty I. 64 Her thirty thousand pounds would more than discharge all the Knight's play debts, though he should never have a swabber in his hand again. 1812 Francis Lett. (1901) II. 670 Last night I had the honour to play at french crowns and swobbers with the following Ladies of quality. 1818 Scott Rob Roy xiv, The society of half a dozen of clowns to play at whisk and swabbers. 1880, 1890 [see swab n.2]. |