Since the early 19th century, of disputed origin. Most commonly thought to be from dibstones (“counters used in a game with the same name”). Also from dib (“to tap”) or related to northern English dip (“small depression in the ground”), or a shortened version of divide.
Meanings
(informal) Used to claim this right.
Translations (20)
hu stip-stop (said to reserve to the right to something before anyone else) · fi varaan (said to reserve to the right to something before anyone else) · fr prems (said to reserve to the right to something before anyone else) · fi mä (said to reserve to the right to something before anyone else) · es me lo reservo (said to reserve to the right to something before anyone else) · izh cur (said to reserve to the right to something before anyone else) · hu stipistop (said to reserve to the right to something before anyone else) · sv pax (said to reserve to the right to something before anyone else) · fi apus (said to reserve to the right to something before anyone else) · hu stipistopi (said to reserve to the right to something before anyone else) · fr shotgun (said to reserve to the right to something before anyone else) · es para mí (said to reserve to the right to something before anyone else) · ru чур (said to reserve to the right to something before anyone else) · es mío (said to reserve to the right to something before anyone else) · es pido (said to reserve to the right to something before anyone else) · fi mulle (said to reserve to the right to something before anyone else) · es es mío (said to reserve to the right to something before anyone else) · es lo clamo primero (said to reserve to the right to something before anyone else) · es me lo pido (said to reserve to the right to something before anyone else) · fr preums m prims (said to reserve to the right to something before anyone else)
Since the early 19th century, of disputed origin. Most commonly thought to be from dibstones (“counters used in a game with the same name”). Also from dib (“to tap”) or related to northern English dip (“small depression in the ground”), or a shortened version of divide.
Meanings
(informal, uncountable) The right to use or enjoy something exclusively or before anyone else.
Del Valle has the blessing of a garage, so he doesn't have to claim “dibs” on shoveled street spots himself, he said. 2011 March 23, “We asked mayoral candidates: Do you support 'dibs' on parking spots?”, in Chicago Sun-Times:
It aims to give unionized California government workers "more workplace discipline protections and first dibs on state government work," as the Sacramento Bee put it. 2012 February 16, “Our View: Public Employees Bill of Rights Act all wrong”, in Appeal-Democrat:
fr prems (the right to use or enjoy something exclusively or before anyone else) · de Vorrecht (the right to use or enjoy something exclusively or before anyone else) · nb fus (the right to use or enjoy something exclusively or before anyone else) · pl zaklepać (the right to use or enjoy something exclusively or before anyone else) · pl zaklepywać (the right to use or enjoy something exclusively or before anyone else) · fr prims (the right to use or enjoy something exclusively or before anyone else) · da helle for (the right to use or enjoy something exclusively or before anyone else) · es prioridad (the right to use or enjoy something exclusively or before anyone else) · es primeras (the right to use or enjoy something exclusively or before anyone else) · fr preums (the right to use or enjoy something exclusively or before anyone else) · es reserva (the right to use or enjoy something exclusively or before anyone else) · ru чур (the right to use or enjoy something exclusively or before anyone else) · is pant (the right to use or enjoy something exclusively or before anyone else) · sh pik (the right to use or enjoy something exclusively or before anyone else) · fi varaus (the right to use or enjoy something exclusively or before anyone else) · fr shotgun (the right to use or enjoy something exclusively or before anyone else) · sv pax (the right to use or enjoy something exclusively or before anyone else) · fi apus (the right to use or enjoy something exclusively or before anyone else) · sv tjing (the right to use or enjoy something exclusively or before anyone else)
Since the early 19th century, of disputed origin. Most commonly thought to be from dibstones (“counters used in a game with the same name”). Also from dib (“to tap”) or related to northern English dip (“small depression in the ground”), or a shortened version of divide.
Meanings
(informal) To claim a temporary right to (something); to reserve.
fi varata (to claim a temporary right to something; to reserve) · izh curattaa (to claim a temporary right to something; to reserve) · fi apustaa (to claim a temporary right to something; to reserve) · hu lestoppol (to claim a temporary right to something; to reserve) · sv paxa (to claim a temporary right to something; to reserve) · es clamar (to claim a temporary right to something; to reserve) · es reservar (to claim a temporary right to something; to reserve) · es pedir (to claim a temporary right to something; to reserve)
Etymology tree
Proto-Semitic *dibš-
Arabic دِبْس (dibs)bor.
English dibs
Borrowed from Arabic دِبْس (dibs).
Meanings
(dated, uncountable) A sweet preparation or treacle of grape juice, much used in the East.
Besides what is thus consumed, the village makes about 180,000 pounds of raisins , one third of which is for home consumption , and about 24,000 pounds of dibs, ( grape molasses , ) all of which is for home use 1874, John William Kirton, The Temperance Hand-Book: