nonce-wd. [f. CUB sb.1 + -SHIP.] The estate or personality of a ‘cub’ or unformed youth.
1835. [J. Blakiston], 20 Yrs. Retirement, I. 202. He … had passed through Eton with a tutor at his elbow, to do his exercises for him, and to prevent his cubship from being cuffed and kicked.
1852. The Minnesotian, 14 Feb., 2/5. In 1836, during the days of our ‘cubship’ in the printing business in Cincinnati.
1881. Chequered Career, 173. We walked aft and observed his cubship.
