squib

squib
I. noun Etymology: origin unknown Date: circa 1525 1. a. a short humorous or satiric writing or speech b. a short news item; especially filler 2. a. a small firecracker b. a broken firecracker in which the powder burns with a fizz 3. a small electric or pyrotechnic device used to ignite a charge II. verb (squibbed; squibbing) Date: circa 1580 intransitive verb 1. to speak, write, or publish squibs 2. to fire a squib transitive verb 1. a. to utter in an offhand manner b. to make squibs against ; lampoon 2. to shoot off ; fire 3. to kick (a football) on a kickoff so that it bounces along the ground

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • Squib — may refer to:*Squib (explosive), a small explosive *Squib load, a firearms malfunction in which a bullet becomes lodged in the barrel *Squib (linguistics), a short article that is intended to ignite thinking and discourse *Squib sailboat, a small …   Wikipedia

  • squib — [skwib] n. [prob. echoic] 1. a type of firecracker that burns with a hissing, spurting noise before exploding 2. a short, sharp, usually witty attack in words; lampoon 3. a short news item; filler vt., vi. squibbed, squibbing 1. to shoot off (a… …   English World dictionary

  • Squib — Squib, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Squibbed} (skw[i^]bd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Squibbing}.] To throw squibs; to utter sarcastic or severe reflections; to contend in petty dispute; as, to squib a little in debate. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • squib — squib·bery; squib·bish; squib; …   English syllables

  • Squib — (skw[i^]b), n. [OE. squippen, swippen, to move swiftly, Icel. svipa to swoop, flash, dart, whip; akin to AS. swipian to whip, and E. swift, a. See {Swift}, a.] 1. A little pipe, or hollow cylinder of paper, filled with powder or combustible… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • squib — [skwıb] n 1.) a small exploding ↑firework 2.) literary a short amusing piece of writing that attacks someone →damp squib at ↑damp1 (2) …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • squib — index parody, ridicule Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • squib — [ skwıb ] noun count 1. ) a type of FIREWORK that explodes with a loud noise 2. ) AMERICAN a short piece of writing that is intended to be funny …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • squib — 1520s, short bit of sarcastic writing, witty scoff, of unknown origin. If the meaning small firework that burns with a hissing noise is the original one, the word might be imitative …   Etymology dictionary

  • squib — *libel, skit, lampoon, pasquinade …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • squib — ► NOUN 1) a small firework that hisses before exploding. 2) a short piece of satirical writing. ORIGIN of unknown origin; perhaps imitative of a small explosion …   English terms dictionary

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