Past tense of 'dab': to touch something lightly and quickly with a small amount of substance, or to apply something with quick, gentle touches.
From Middle English 'dabben,' possibly from Old Norse or Germanic origins, meaning to strike or hit lightly. The word has maintained its meaning of a light, quick touching action for centuries.
The 'dab' dance move that became famous in the 2010s used the exact meaning of the word—a quick, light motion—but combined it with a pose, showing how old words keep getting new cultural lives.
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