Forms: 6 squyb(e, sqwybe (skwybe, skuybe, scuibe, skybb), 7 squybb, 6–7 squibb(e (7 sqib, squip), 6– squib. [Of obscure origin; perh. intended as imitative of an explosive sound.]
1. A common species of firework, in which the burning of the composition is usually terminated by a slight explosion.
‘Squibs are straight cylindrical cases about 6 inches long, firmly closed at one end, tightly packed with a strong composition, and capped with touch-paper’ (1886 Encycl. Brit., XX. 136).
a. 1530. Heywood, Play of Love, 1293. (Stage. dir.), Here the vyse cometh in … with a hye copyn tank on his hed full of squybs fyred.
1551–2. in Feuillerat, Revels Edw. VI. (1914), 67. One hollowe clubb to burne squibbes in.
1582. N. Lichefield, trans. Castanheda’s Conq. E. Ind., I. xii. 31. Our men made them a great feast, with much pastime also of Squibs, Gunne shot, and great and lowde cryes.
1623. in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. I. III. 160. Every College had a speech and one dish more at supper, and bonefires and squibbes in their Courts.
1673. Boyle, Ess. Effluviums, II. 28. The irregular and wrigling motion of those fired Squibs that Boys are wont to make by ramming Gunpowder into Quills.
1721. Amherst, Terræ Filius, No. 22 (1726), I. 124. Several squibs were thrown in at the window, which burnt some of their cloaths.
1774. Ann. Reg., 151. Several people amused themselves with throwing squibs about the gates of the palace.
1808. Beverley Lighting Act, 18. Crackers, squibs, serpents, rockets, or other fireworks.
1847. Alb. Smith, Chr. Tadpole, i. (1879), 20. The literary gentleman having finished, like a damp squib with a good bang, resumed his seat.
1873. E. Spon, Workshop Receipts, Ser. I. 139/1. For squibs, before filling the case, ram in hard a thimbleful of coarse gunpowder.
b. In fig. context. (Cf. sense 3.)
1599. Broughton’s Lett., 47. Your bookes [are] but squibs, compounds of gunpowder and pisse.
1623. Hexham, Tongue-combat, 50. [It] sets all Christendome in combustion, with a Romish squib of reseruation.
1644. Quarles, Whipper Whipt, Wks. (Grosart), I. 164/1. If he cast no squibs in a Princes face,… they say he hath no holy Fire in him.
1753. Richardson, Grandison (1781), II. 282. I could then throw my little squibs about me at pleasure; and not fear … the singeing of my own cloaths!
a. 1771. Smollett, Humph. Cl. (1815), 236. He … even threw such squibs at the immortality of the soul, as singed a little the whiskers of Mrs. Tabitha’s faith.
1861. Sat. Rev., 30 Nov., 554. A talker of the highest order ought not to encourage the expectation of squibs and crackers as often as he opens his mouth.
1882. A. W. Ward, Dickens, iii. 68. in 1841 he had thrown a few squibs in the Examiner at Sir Robert Peel and the Tories.
† c. In fig. allusions to the display of such fireworks on a rope or line. Obs.
1647. Cleveland, Charac. Lond.-Diurn. (1653), 81. But the Squib is run to the end of the Rope.
1649. G. Daniel, Trinarch., To Rdr. 39. Some Squibbs prepareing are, the Ropes are laid To entertaine the Gapers.
1679. Dryden, Limberham, V. i. Well, the squibs run to the end of the line, and now for the cracker.
2. † a. An explosive device used as a missile or means of attack. Obs.
1589. R. Harvey, Pl. Perc. (1590), 7. Not to cast them like squibs & wild fire within your owne hatches.
1591. Raleigh, Last Fight ‘Revenge,’ A 3 b. Their Nauy … consisting of 240 saile of ships … were … driuen with squibs from their anchors.
1598. Florio, Petardo, a squib or petard of gun powder vsed to burst vp gates or doores with.
1610. B. Jonson, Alch., IV. iii. He speakes out of a fortification. ‘Pray god, he ha’ no squibs in those deepe sets.
1686. trans. Chardin’s Trav. Persia, 3. The Admiral coming to an Anchor, fir’d Several Squibs from his Main-Top-Mast.
b. slang. A gun.
1839. G. W. M. Reynolds, Pickw. Abroad, xxvi. Song, A double-tongued [= double-barrelled] squib to keep in awe The chaps that flout at me.
c. Mining. (See quots.)
1881. Raymond, Mining Gloss., Squib, a slow-match or safety-fuse, used with a barrel.
1883. Gresley, Gloss. Coal-mining, 234. Squib, a straw, rush, paper, or quill tube filled with a priming of gunpowder,… and ignited by means of a smift.
3. A smart gird or hit; a sharp scoff or sarcasm; a short composition of a satirical and witty character; a lampoon.
c. 1525. in Thoms, Anecd. (Camden), 15. Purposing to put a grave slye squibbe upon him, ‘Sir,’ sayes he, ‘this does not well.’
1593. Nashe, Four Lett. Conf., Wks. (Grosart), II. 277. Thou must haue one squibbe more at the Deuils Orator,… or thy penne is not in cleane life.
1607. Hieron, Defence, I. 224. Observe … his squibb at M. B. for saying, Austin not S. Austin.
1654. Vilvain, Theorem. Theol., iii. 87. ’Tis a silly Sophisters squib to say, Bishops are caled Elders, and contrarily.
1739. Pope, Lett. to Warburton, 4 Jan. I see by certain squibs in the Miscellanies, that [etc.].
1775. Bindley, in J. Granger’s Lett. (1805), 387. The little squib you sent me I thank you for; I think it lively enough.
1844. Disraeli, Coningsby, I. ii. No one was more faithful to his early friends…, particularly if they could write a squib.
1882. Sergt. Ballantine, Exper., xiii. 127. His tendency to uphold technical views gave rise to a very clever squib.
4. Applied to persons: † a. A mean, insignificant or paltry fellow. Obs.
1586. Abp. Loftus, in Froude, Eng. (1870), XII. 201, note. They are all of them but a sort of beggars and squibbes, puppies, dogs, dunghill churles.
1591. Spenser, M. Hubberd, 371. Its an hard case, when men of good deseruing Must … be … asked for their pas by euerie squib, That list at will them to reuile or snib.
1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe, Wks. (Grosart), V. 288. Out steps me an infant squib of the Innes of Court.
a. 1653. G. Daniel, Idyll, i. 39. Away! Squibbs of Scurrilitie; ’twas Shame First taught vs cloths.
† b. A subordinate decoy in a gambling-house.
1731. Gentl. Mag., I. 25. A Squib is a Puff of a lower Rank, who serves at half salary.
c. A firer or thrower of squibs. rare–1.
1759. H. Walpole, Lett. (1846), III. 471. Every squib in town got drunk, and rioted about the streets till morning.
d. Oxford slang. (See quot.)
1866. St. James’s Mag., Oct., 366. The simple seeming ‘squib’ was … a phrase used … by the privileged Christ Church man to designate any member of the university not a member of the … House. Ibid., 367. The supercilious soubriquet of ‘squib’ is practically extinct.
5. A squirt or syringe. Now dial.
1583. Stubbes, Anat. Abus., II. (1882), 36. A squirt, or a squibbe, which little children vsed to squirt out water withall.
1854–. in dial. glossaries (Nhp., Leics., Worc., Kent, Glouc., Warw.).
† 6. (See first quot.) Obs.
1611. Cotgr., Petereau, a little fart, or Squib.
1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, I. xxv. Often-times thinking to let a squib, they did all-to-besquatter … themselves.
7. a. A small measure or quantity (of strong drink). Now dial.
1766. Amory, Buncle (1770), III. 208. He got me a good supper of trouts, fine ale, and a squib of punch.
1805. in Spirit Public Jrnls., IX. 312. We raised our spirits with a snack of the bacon, and a squib of gin each.
1844. W. H. Maxwell, Wand. Highl., iii. (1855), 52. You … rode your … match without a squib.
1869–. in dial. glossaries, etc. (Lancs., Yks., Westm.).
b. slang. A head of asparagus.
1851. Mayhew, Lond. Labour, I. 93/1. I buy all mine at Covent-garden, where it’s sold in bundles,… containing from six to ten dozen squibs (heads).
c. colloq. A kind of sweet made up in a form resembling a squib.
1851. Mayhew, Lond. Labour, I. 203/2. ‘Hardbake,’ ‘almond toffy,’ ‘half-penny lollipops,’ ‘black balls,’ the cheaper ‘bulls eyes,’ and ‘squibs’ are all made of treacle.
d. slang. (See quot.)
1865. Slang Dict., 244. Squibs, paint-brushes.
8. attrib. and Comb., as (in sense 1) squib-crack(er, -light, -maker, powder; (in sense 3) squib-teller, -writer; † squib-pear (see quots. 1664–76).
c. 1610. Beaum. & Fl., Philaster, II. They talk of Jupiter, he’s but a squib cracker to her.
1630. J. Taylor (Water P.), Laugh and be Fat, Wks. I. 70. With squib-crack lightning, empty hogshead thundring, To maze the world with terror & with wondring.
1647. (title) A Fresh Whip for all scandalous Lyers; Or, a true Description of the two eminent Pamphliteers, or Squib-tellers of this Kingdome.
1659. England’s Conf., 16. Hab. Morley Squib-maker.
1664. Evelyn, Kal. Hort., 80. Fruits in Prime, and yet lasting…. The Squib-pear, Spindle-pear, Virgin.
1676. Worlidge, Cyder (1691), 216. Dead mans pear, Bell-pear, the Squib-pear,… are all very good winter pears.
1837. W. B. Adams, Carriages, ii. 47. Their own poet Taylor … now and then assisted by a stray pamphleteer or squib-writer.
1893. Westm. Gaz., 7 Nov., 3/2. A sort of Lord Mayor’s Show by torchlight and squib-light.
