Obs. rare. Also 7 quabbe, 8 quobb(e. [a. MDu. (and MLG.) quabbe (Du. kwab, kwabbe, (L)G. quabbe, Da. kvabbe, Sw. qvabba), burbot or eelpout, goby, tadpole; var. of quappe, OLG. quappa.]
1. a. A sea-slug (see HOLOTHURIAN sb.). b. An eelpout or burbot. c. (See QUABLING.)
1617. Minsheu, Ductor, A Quabbe, a kinde of fish … Holothuria. Ibid., A Quabbe, or Eele-powt … Mustela fluviatilis.
1748. Phil. Trans., XLV. 174. An extraordinary Fish in that Country [Russia], called the Quab, which is reported to be first a Tadpole, then a Frog, and at last a Fish.
1799. W. Tooke, View Russian Emp., III. 113. Quobbs are likewise in the Irtysh in surprising numbers.
2. fig. A crude or shapeless thing.
1628. Ford, Lover’s Mel., III. iii. (1629), 49. I will shew your highnes, A trifle of mine owne braine…. A Schollers fancy, A quab. Tis nothing else a very quab.
