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

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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of squab was in 1664

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.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on squab

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