dibs

noun

Dibs is defined as a slang term for money and a slang term for a claim to something.

When you declare that the last piece of pie is yours, this is an example of a situation where you call dibs on the last piece of pie.

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"dibs." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/dibs>.

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dibs. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/dibs

dibs

Slang a claim to a share of, or rights in, something wanted: I've got first dibs on that candy bar

Origin of dibs

contr. from dibstone, a jack or a sheep knucklebone in a children's game from dib ( from uncertain or unknown; perhaps ) + stone

used to announce such a claim

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MLA Style

"dibs." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/dibs>.

APA Style

dibs. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/dibs

dibs

plural noun

Slang

A claim; rights: I have dibs on that last piece of pie.
Money, especially in small amounts.

Origin of dibs

Short for dibstones counters used in a game probably from obsolete dib to tap

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"dibs." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/dibs>.

APA Style

dibs. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/dibs

Noun

(uncountable)

(informal) A claim to the right to use or enjoy something exclusively or before anyone else.
Dibs means I get the hammock.
Who's got dibs on the chips?

Verb

(third-person singular simple present dibses, present participle dibsing, simple past and past participle dibsed)

To claim a temporary right to (something); to reserve.

Origin

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

Noun

(uncountable)