dibs

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See also: Dibs and DIBs

English

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Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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Since the early 19th century, of disputed origin. Most commonly thought to be from dibstones (counters used in a game with the same name). Also from dib (to tap) or related to northern English dip (small depression in the ground), or a shortened version of divide.

Noun

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dibs (uncountable)

  1. (informal) The right to use or enjoy something exclusively or before anyone else.
    I call dibs on the hammock!
    Who's got dibs on the chips?
    • 2011 March 23, “We asked mayoral candidates: Do you support 'dibs' on parking spots?”, in Chicago Sun-Times:
      Del Valle has the blessing of a garage, so he doesn't have to claim “dibs” on shoveled street spots himself, he said.
    • 2012 February 16, “Our View: Public Employees Bill of Rights Act all wrong”, in Appeal-Democrat:
      It aims to give unionized California government workers "more workplace discipline protections and first dibs on state government work," as the Sacramento Bee put it.
Synonyms
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  • bags (UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland)
Derived terms
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Translations
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Interjection

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dibs

  1. (informal) Used to claim this right
Translations
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Verb

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dibs (third-person singular simple present dibses, present participle dibsing, simple past and past participle dibsed)

  1. (informal) To claim a temporary right to (something); to reserve.
Synonyms
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Translations
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Etymology 2

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From Arabic دِبْس (dibs).

Noun

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dibs (uncountable)

  1. (dated) A sweet preparation or treacle of grape juice, much used in the East.
    • 1874, John William Kirton, The Temperance Hand-Book:
      Besides what is thus consumed, the village makes about 180,000 pounds of raisins , one third of which is for home consumption , and about 24,000 pounds of dibs, ( grape molasses , ) all of which is for home use

Etymology 3

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Noun

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dibs

  1. plural of dib
  2. (obsolete) A child's game, played with dib bones or stones, throwing them up from one's palm and catching them on the back of the hand.
  3. (slang, archaic) Money.
    • 1897, The Investors Review, volume 10, page 310:
      Get hold of the dibs, says he, and then you are bound to be right.

References

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  • (money): 2017, Tony Crowley, The Liverpool English Dictionary (page 76)

Anagrams

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