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
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
Dover sole is followed by a frog’s leg is trailed by squab garnished with jewellike raspberries.
—
Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 24 July 2023
The menu called for the indomitable credit men to eat cream of new asparagus, Philadelphia squab, and assorted cakes.
—Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 3 July 2023
Then on Valentine’s Day, diners can enjoy a seven-course menu with oyster French onion soup, caviar cannoli, pad Thai terrine, squab, rack of lamb and crème brûlée.
—Dallas News, 2 Feb. 2023
There’s squab, there’s hens, there’s chickens.
—Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2021
Some come from the inn’s 265-acre estate, home to a large garden and 11 beehives; lamb, squab, and beef are raised on nearby farms in the Shenandoah Valley; and cheeses are sourced from Locksley Farmstead Cheese Co. on the southern edge of Loudoun County.
—Washington Post, 3 June 2021
The ethereal texture of the dreamiest risottos, the cozy feeling of enjoying rice in broth when there’s a chill outside, the earthy flavor coating each grain when stuffed into juicy squab, my sense of nostalgia when as pudding, rice is bathed in cream and sugar.
—Miguel De Leon, Bon Appétit, 17 Mar. 2021
Rye will serve a seven-course menu Feb. 14 with oyster French onion soup, caviar cannoli, pad Thai terrine, squab, rack of lamb and crème brûlée.
—Dallas News, 2 Feb. 2023
Probably one of the most brilliant pairings was the fifth course with the squab which was dry aged, smoked, and prepared with a plum sauce and sticky rice.
—Liz Thach, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2022
See More
Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 24 July 2023
The menu called for the indomitable credit men to eat cream of new asparagus, Philadelphia squab, and assorted cakes.
—Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 3 July 2023
Then on Valentine’s Day, diners can enjoy a seven-course menu with oyster French onion soup, caviar cannoli, pad Thai terrine, squab, rack of lamb and crème brûlée.
—Dallas News, 2 Feb. 2023
There’s squab, there’s hens, there’s chickens.
—Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2021
Some come from the inn’s 265-acre estate, home to a large garden and 11 beehives; lamb, squab, and beef are raised on nearby farms in the Shenandoah Valley; and cheeses are sourced from Locksley Farmstead Cheese Co. on the southern edge of Loudoun County.
—Washington Post, 3 June 2021
The ethereal texture of the dreamiest risottos, the cozy feeling of enjoying rice in broth when there’s a chill outside, the earthy flavor coating each grain when stuffed into juicy squab, my sense of nostalgia when as pudding, rice is bathed in cream and sugar.
—Miguel De Leon, Bon Appétit, 17 Mar. 2021
Rye will serve a seven-course menu Feb. 14 with oyster French onion soup, caviar cannoli, pad Thai terrine, squab, rack of lamb and crème brûlée.
—Dallas News, 2 Feb. 2023
Probably one of the most brilliant pairings was the fifth course with the squab which was dry aged, smoked, and prepared with a plum sauce and sticky rice.
—Liz Thach, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2022
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'squab.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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
Dictionary Entries Near squab
Cite this Entry
“Squab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/squab. Accessed 29 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
squab
noun
plural squabs or squab
: a young bird
especially
: a young pigeon about four weeks old and ready for use as food
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