22 November 2018
squib
[skwib]
noun
1. a short and witty or sarcastic saying or writing.
2. Journalism. a short news story, often used as a filler.
3. a small firework, consisting of a tube or ball filled with powder, that burns with a hissing noise terminated usually by a slight explosion.
4. a firecracker broken in the middle so that it burns with a hissing noise but does not explode.
5. Australian. a coward.
6. an electric, pyrotechnic device for firing the igniter of a rocket engine, especially a solid-propellant engine.
7. Obsolete. a mean or paltry fellow.
verb (used without object), squibbed, squibbing.
8. to write squibs.
9. to shoot a squib.
10. to explode with a small, sharp sound.
11. to move swiftly and irregularly.
12. Australian.
to be afraid.
to flee; escape.
verb (used with object), squibbed, squibbing.
13. to assail in squibs or lampoons.
14. to toss, shoot, or utilize as a squib.
Origin of squib
1515-1525 First recorded in 1515-25; origin uncertain
Related forms
squibbish, adjective
Dictionary.com
Examples from the Web for squib
Historical Examples
Here is a pistol, it is not loaded, but there is powder in the pan, and you can squib it.
The Buccaneer Chief
Gustave Aimard
He arrived at his climax like a squib that attains its ideal.
When Ghost Meets Ghost
William Frend De Morgan
But the squib is run to the end of the rope: room for the prodigy of valour.
Character Writings of the 17th Century
Various
Would Leonidas have fastened a squib to the robe of the Spartan mother?
Damon and Delia
William Godwin
With eleven illustrations, designed by squib, and engraved by Point.
Life of Charles Dickens
Frank Marzials
We entreat our readers not to receive the above as a squib of invention.
The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction
Various
Equally acceptable for its rarity would be a squib on Mrs. Piozzi without a reference to the brewery.
Autobiography, Letters and Literary Remains of Mrs. Piozzi (Thrale) (2nd ed.) (2 vols.)
Mrs. Hester Lynch Piozzi
“I could turn him with a bit of a bush,” said squib, glancing at Gouws, who was drawing gradually nearer to the party.
Six Months at the Cape
R.M. Ballantyne
It is generally believed that squib has not gone guinea-fowl shooting among ostriches since that day!
Six Months at the Cape
R.M. Ballantyne
The squib had long burnt out by the time we got there; but the sight that met our astonished gaze was magnificent.
A Veldt Official
Bertram Mitford
Today’s quote
It’s always good to remember where you come from and celebrate it. To remember where you come from is part of where you’re going.
– Anthony Burgess
On this day
22 November 1819 – birth of Mary Ann Evans. One of England’s greatest novelists, she published under the name ‘George Eliot’ in order to be taken seriously. Some of her novels include ‘Adam Bede’, ‘Mill on the Floss’, ‘Silas Marner’, and ‘Daniel Deronda’. Her novel, ‘Middlemarch’, was described as the greatest novel in the English language. Died 22 December 1880.
22 November 1906 – the use of the morse code signal ‘SOS’ is implemented as a global distress call. The SOS signal is three dots, three dashes and three dots
(· · · — — — · · ·)
22 November 1963 – assassination of John F. Kennedy. 35th president of the United States. Born 29 May 1917.
22 November 1963 – death of Aldous Huxley, English writer. Most famous for his vision of the future, ‘Brave New World’, as well as his work ‘The Doors of Perception’, based on his use of psychedelic drugs. Jim Morrison named his 60’s psychedelic rock band, ‘The Doors’ after Huxley’s book. Born 26 July 1894.
22 November 1963 – death of Clive Staples (C.S.) Lewis, Irish novelist, author of ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ and ‘The Screwtape Letters’. Born 29 November 1898.
22 November 1990 – UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher forced to resign by her own Cabinet who refused to endorse her as leader. She had come to power in 1979 and had become known as the ‘Iron Lady’. She is the longest-serving UK Prime Minister and the only female to hold the post. She fought numerous battles with unions over her economic and deregulation reforms. She introduced a ‘Community Charge’ or ‘Poll Tax’, which replaced rates with a flat-tax rate on every adult. It was extremely unpopular even within her own Cabinet and was a crucial catalyst for her disendorsement and subsequent resignation.
22 November 1993 – death of Anthony Burgess, English writer. Most famous for his dystopian novel, ‘The Clockwork Orange’, which Stanley Kubrick made into a controversial movie. Born 25 February 1917.