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 of squab

• couch
• 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

The cookbook included meats from chicken and turkey to venison, rabbit and squab, while some families served possum, tongue or wild duck. —Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 20 Dec. 2025

Diners don’t receive a menu until the end of service, but servers explain each course in detail, often while pouring on finishing sauces, spooning caviar or sharing a sneak peek of future dishes, like the full squab in a roasting pan before it’s cut and plated. —Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Oct. 2025

The main difference is that Anderson probably devours a more refined preparation of squab. —Scott Tobias, Vulture, 7 June 2025

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

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