Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
JABB, v., n. Also jab.
I. v. To weary, exhaust, tire out (Abd.2 1947).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 89:
He dreeve the nout our fast, an' jabbit thim or they wan t' the market. He traivelt abeen forty mile yesterday, an' jabbit himsel' athegeethir.
Hence ppl.adjs. jabbit, fatigued, jaded (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.; ne.Sc. 1959); jabbin', exhausting; vbl.n., jabban, “the act of making such exertion as to exhaust the strength” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 89).Ags. 1896 A. Blair Rantin Robin 131:
Ye're awfu jabbit an' dune like.Abd.7 1925:
A “jabbin job” is one that tires out quickly, brings on fatigue: and to be “jabbit” is to be too tired for further exertion.Abd. 1959 Huntly Express (16 Jan.) 2:
The Glendronach cattle . . . were . . . well conditioned, but the longer distance over which they had been driven had them “a bittie jabbit.”
II. n. “A big, lean, uncomely person” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 89); “a big-boned, lean animal with its strength wellnigh exhausted” (Ib.).
[Orig. doubtful. Cf. Jaup, Jamph.]
