or job, subs. (colloquial American).—A prod; a poke; a stab.
1872. C. D. WARNER, Backlog Studies, 279. ‘Oh yes, I have,’ I cried, starting up and giving the fire a JAB with the poker.
1884. Detroit Free Press, 3 May, p. 5, col. 4. He gave each of the Epistles a vicious JAB with the cancelling stamp, and then tossed it into the mail-bag.
Verb. (colloquial American).—To handle harshly; to hustle; to prod or poke; to stab (with a pointed weapon).
1868. Putnam’s Magazine, Sept. (quoted by DE VERE). ‘The Missouri stoker pulls and JABS his plutonic monster as an irate driver would regulate his mule.’
1885. F. R. STOCKTON, Rudder Grange, iv. ‘Shall we run on deck and shoot him as he swims?’ I cried. ‘No,’ said the boarder, ‘we’ll get the boat-hook, and JAB him if he tries to climb up.’
1888. Denver Republican, 6 May. When it [hair] don’t twist easily she’s as like to JAB at it with her scissors and shorten it herself as trust it to anybody as knows how.
1889. Detroit Free Press, 5 Jan. Moses JABBED at him and ran the umbrella clean through him.
1890. Tit-Bits, 26 April, p. 55, col. 3. If you JAB that umbrella in my eye again, you’ll get a broken head!
