Dabber
/ˈdæb.ər/noun
A tool or person that dabs, especially a pad used to apply ink in printing or a small tool used to apply or press on something.
Did you know?In printing and card games, a dabber is literally a tool of controlled contact—proof that some words were born from the physical act of pressing a mark into the world.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dhebh-
“to put, place, or set”
Old English
OE
dæbbian
“to strike or tap lightly; to apply with a quick touch”
Middle English
ME
dabben
“to tap, pat, or touch lightly”
Early Modern English
English
dabber
“one who dabs; a tool for dabbing ink or color”
Modern English
English
dabber
“a pad or tool used to apply ink, paint, or similar material with a light touch”