squab

noun

ˈskwäb 

plural squabs

1

a

: couch

b

: a cushion for a chair or couch

2

or plural squab : a fledgling bird

specifically : a fledgling pigeon about four weeks old

3

: a short fat person

squab adjective

Synonyms

• chesterfield
• couch
• davenport
• divan
• lounge
• settee
• sofa

Examples of squab in a Sentence

at one point Robinson Crusoe tells of making a rough-hewn squab with the skins of animals he had killed

Recent Examples on the Web

In between, waiters brought out dishes including salmon, duckling and squab. —James Barron, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025

The squabs are fed an exclusive diet of crop milk for the first week or two of their life, and then gradually the parents mix in adult food. —Popsci Staff, Popular Science, 28 Feb. 2024

The boldness of that squab represented tasting-menu cuisine at its best. —Pete Wells, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2024

Less wonderful: the very, very rare squab breast sealed with a lobe of foie gras inside a pastry crust. —Pete Wells, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish dialect skvabb loose, fat flesh

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for squab

• aah
• ah
• ahh
• aw
• awe
• bah
• blah
• bra
• caw
• claw
• craw
• daw

Kids Definition

squab

noun

ˈskwäb 

plural squabs or squab

: a young bird

especially : a young pigeon about four weeks old and ready for use as food