zwabber

Dutch

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈzʋɑ.bər/

• Audio:

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• Hyphenation: zwab‧ber
• Rhymes: -ɑbər

Etymology 1

Probably the root of zwabben (from swabben 'to plod(der), drudge trough (filth)(y) (water)', cognate with to swab) + -er.

Noun

zwabber m (plural zwabbers, diminutive zwabbertje n)

1. a mop, implement for cleaning floors etc., especially aboard a vessel
2. certain other nautical cleaning implements:
   1. a dradenstoffer m
   2. a zeilveger m
3. (metonymically) a cabin-boy, least senior sailor (apprentice), as he (or they) must most often do chores like manning the mop
4. a ship officer on the guard duty kuilwacht
5. (derogatory) an irresponsible person, notably:
   1. a party animal
   2. a squanderer
   3. a drunk, who staggers (compare etymology 2)
6. a dirty person
7. a dirtbag
8. (metonymically) the tail of a fish or whale

Synonyms

• (mop) mop
• (boy) scheepsjongen; see below derived terms
• (party animal) fuifbeest, fuifnummer
• (squanderer) doordraaier, verkwister
• (drunk) dronkenlap, zatlap, zuipschuit
• (dirty person) smeerpoets

Derived terms

• zwabbergast m
• zwabberjanus m
• zwabberschap n
• zwabberkapitein m
• zwabberpaai m
• zwabberbak m
• (mops by use) brandzwabber m, dekzwabber m, handzwabber m, koelzwabber m

Related terms

• gezwabber n
• zwabberaar m
• zwabbelen
• zwabberen (verb)

Etymology 2

From zwabberen, a frequentative (alongside zwabbelen) from zwabben 'to drudge, plod(der)'.

Noun

zwabber m (plural zwabbers, diminutive zwabbertje n)

1. a swaggerer, staggerer
2. a tramp, vagrant, hobo
3. a beggar

Synonyms

• (swaggerer) zwalper m
• (tramp) landloper m, zwerver m
• (beggar) bedelaar m

Etymology 3

Germanic, probably from English swabber, a whist term.

Noun

zwabber ? (plural zwabbers, diminutive zwabbertje n)

1. a form of the cards game pandoeren, without trumps or points

Etymology 4

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb

zwabber

1. inflection of zwabberen:
   1. first-person singular present indicative
   2. (in case of inversion) second-person singular present indicative
   3. imperative