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squib

(skwĭb)

a. A small firecracker.

b. A broken firecracker that burns but does not explode.

a. A brief satirical or witty writing or speech, such as a lampoon.

b. A short, sometimes humorous piece in a newspaper or magazine, usually used as a filler.

3. Football A squib kick.

v. squibbed, squib·bing, squibs

v.intr.

To write or utter squibs.

v.tr.

1. To write or utter squibs against; lampoon.

2. Football To kick (the ball) low on a kickoff so that it bounces along the ground.

[Probably imitative.]

squibber n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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