Also 6 swaber, 7–8 swobber. [a. early mod.Du. zwabber, f. zwabben: see SWAB v.1 and -ER1. Cf. LG. swabber (G. schwabber) mop, WFris. swabber mop, also roving fellow, vagabond, beggar.]
1. One of a ship’s crew whose business it was to swab the decks, etc.; a petty officer who had charge of the cleaning of the decks.
1592. Wyrley, Armorie, Capitall de Buz, 144. Scarce little chip shall lie vpon the hatch, But for the swabber [he] hastely doth call, Cleane and fine ech buisnes to dispatch.
1598. W. Phillip, trans. Linschoten, I. xciii. 165/1. The Guardian or quartermaster … hath charge to see the swabers pumpe to make the ship cleane.
1610. Shaks., Temp., II. ii. 48. The Master, the Swabber, the Boate-swaine & I.
1627. Capt. J. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., viii. 36. The Swabber is to wash and keepe cleane the ship and maps.
1653. Gauden, Hierasp., 114. By driving the skilful Pilots … from the Helm, and putting in their places every bold Boatswain, and simple Swobber.
1755. Connoisseur, No. 84. 507. It is beneath the dignity of the British Flag to have an Admiral behave as rudely as a Swabber, or a Commodore as foul-mouthed as a Boatswain.
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1780), Swabber, ship’s sweeper, usually called captain’s swabber.
1803. Royal Proclam., 7 July. Gunsmiths, Coopers, Swabbers.
1834. W. Ind. Sk. Bk., I. 34. A staunch crew too, none of your swabbers and afterguard, able seamen every man on ’em.
1864. E. A. Parkes, Pract. Hygiene, 582. The swabbers, who clean the between-decks, thoroughly ventilate, &c.
b. transf. One who uses a mop or cleans up.
1720–1. Lett. fr. Mist’s Jrnl. (1722), II. 309. Prince Cerberus his Groom of the Stool wants a Swobber.
2. One who behaves like a sailor of low rank; a low or unmannerly fellow: a term of contempt. (Cf. SWAB sb.1 2 b.)
1609. B. Jonson, Sil. Wom., IV. iv. How these swabbers talke! Ibid. (1610), Alch., IV. vii. Doe not beleeue him, sir: He is the lying’st Swabber!
1769. R. Cumberland, Brothers, in Brit. Theat. (1808), XVIII. 27. Ridiculous! a poor, beggarly, swabber truly.
[1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Sea-swabber, a reproachful term for an idle sailor.]
3. A mop or swab; spec. a kind of mop for cleaning ovens.
1607. Dekker, Knt.’s Conjur., viii. I iij. [Charon loq.] Their ragges serued to make me Swabbers.
a. 1625. Fletcher, Woman’s Prize, III. i. Nothing but brayded haire, and penny riband, Glove, garter, ring, rose, or at best a swabber.
1857. Wright, Dict. Obs. & Prov. Engl., Swabber,… a kind of broom.
4. attrib.: † swabber-slops, ? a sailor’s wide breeches or garments resembling them.
a. 1658. Cleveland, Cl. Vind., Poems (1677), 101. List him a Writer, and you smother Geoffry in Swabber-slops.
1661. K. W., Conf. Charac., Old Hording Hagg (1860), 90. Her swetty toes,… the things contained in these swabberslops.
