%quab%

n. [ L. aequabilitas, fr. aequabilis. See Equable. ] The quality or condition of being equable; evenness or uniformity; as, equability of temperature; the equability of the mind. [ 1913 Webster ]

For the celestial bodies, the equability and constancy of their motions argue them ordained by wisdom. Ray. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. aequabilis, fr. aequare to make level or equal, fr. aequus even, equal. See Equal. ] 1. Equal and uniform; continuing the same at different times; -- said of motion, and the like; uniform in surface; smooth; as, an equable plain or globe. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Uniform in action or intensity; not variable or changing; -- said of the feelings or temper. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Quality or state of being equable. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an equable manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Unequable. [ R. ] Bailey. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. liquabilis. See Liquate, v. i. ] Capable of being melted. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. See Quob, v. i. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. D. kwab eelpout, Dan. quabbe, G. quabbe, quappe, LG. quabbe a fat lump of flesh, and L. capito a kind of fish with a large head, fr. caput the head, also E. squab. ] An unfledged bird; hence, something immature or unfinished. Ford. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. dial. Sw. sqvabb a soft and fat body, sqvabba a fat woman, Icel. kvap jelly, jellylike things, and E. quab. ] 1. Fat; thick; plump; bulky. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nor the squab daughter nor the wife were nice. Betterton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Unfledged; unfeathered; as, a squab pigeon. King. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. (Zool.) A nestling of a pigeon or other similar bird, esp. when very fat and not fully fledged. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A person of a short, fat figure. [ 1913 Webster ]

Gorgonious sits abdominous and wan,
Like a fat squab upon a Chinese fan. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A thickly stuffed cushion; especially, one used for the seat of a sofa, couch, or chair; also, a sofa. [ 1913 Webster ]

Punching the squab of chairs and sofas. Dickens. [ 1913 Webster ]

On her large squab you find her spread. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. [ Cf. dial. Sw. sqvapp, a word imitative of a splash, and E. squab fat, unfledged. ] With a heavy fall; plump. [ Vulgar ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The eagle took the tortoise up into the air, and dropped him down, squab, upon a rock. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To fall plump; to strike at one dash, or with a heavy stroke. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To crush; to quash; to squash. [ Colloq. or Slang, Scot. ] Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Thick; fat; heavy. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Squabbled p. pr. & vb. n. Squabbling ] [ Cf. dial. Sw. skvabbel a dispute, skvappa to chide. ] 1. To contend for superiority in an unseemly manner; to scuffle; to struggle; to wrangle; to quarrel. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To debate peevishly; to dispute. [ 1913 Webster ]

The sense of these propositions is very plain, though logicians might squabble a whole day whether they should rank them under negative or affirmative. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To dispute; contend; scuffle; wrangle; quarrel; struggle. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. (Print.) To disarrange, so that the letters or lines stand awry or are mixed and need careful readjustment; -- said of type that has been set up. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A scuffle; a wrangle; a brawl. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who squabbles; a contentious person; a brawler. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Short and thick; sqabbish. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A young chicken before it is fully fledged. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]