or cub, subs. phr. (common).—A raw, unmannerly youth; an uncultivated boor; also an awkward, sulky girl (GROSE). As adj. = ungainly, rough, rude. [A popular notion was that a bear gave birth to shapeless lumps of flesh which she licked into shape.] Also UNLICKED BEAR.
[1602. SHAKESPEARE, Twelfth Night, v. i. 167.
| Duke. O thou dissembling CUB! what wilt thou be | |
| When time has sow’d a grizzle on thy case?] |
1626. FLETCHER, The Fair Maid of the Inn, iii. Thou UNLICKT BEAR, dar’st thou yet stand by my Fury.
1693. CONGREVE, The Old Bachelor, iv. 8. A country squire, with the equipage of a wife and two daughters … oh Gad! two such UNLICKED CUBS!
1762. FOOTE, The Liar, ii. 2. I don’t reckon much upon him: for, you know, my dear, what can I do with an awkward, raw, college CUB?
1773. GOLDSMITH, She Stoops to Conquer, iv. 1. ‘A poor contemptible booby that would but disgrace correction.’… ‘An insensible CUB.’
1880. A. TROLLOPE, The Duke’s Children, ix. And Tommy, you are an uncivil young,—young,—young,—I should say CUB if I dared, to tell me that you don’t like dining with me any day of the week.
1855. THACKERAY, The Newcomes, xxix. I don’t see why that infernal young CUB of a Clive is always meddling in our affairs.
