dabster

[ dab-ster ]

/ ˈdæb stər /

Slang. an expert.

Informal. a person who works in a superficial or clumsy manner; dabbler.

Origin of dabster

First recorded in 1700–10; dab³ + -ster

dabber, dabbing, dabble, dabbling duck, dabchick, dabster, daca, dacarbazine, dacca, dace, dacha

An' there was Doctor Dabster, that could pit a bottle or twa under his belt, an' was neither up nor down.

Scotch Wit and Humor |W. H. (Walter Henry) Howe
Dabster was seen on Tuesday evening, going convoy to a milliner.

The Humors of Falconbridge |Jonathan F. Kelley
He became a dabster at tucking paper napkins into his neat little waistcoat without tearing them.

The Innocents |Sinclair Lewis
Dabster wore a silk hat, and—well, Daisy was a woman, and that hat had no chance to get back in its box until Joe had seen it.

Strictly Business |O. Henry

"Mr. Dabster's going to take me on top of the building to observe the view," said Daisy, after she had introduced her admirers.

Strictly Business |O. Henry

dabster

/ (ˈdæbstə) /

British a dialect word for dab hand

US informal an incompetent or amateurish worker; bungler

C18: from dab 1 + -ster