Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

KNAB, n.³, v. Also knaab, (k)nab(b). [(k)nɑb]

I. n. A blow, whack, severe stroke (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 356, nab; Slk. 1825 Jam.). Dim. knaabie.Slk. 1822 Hogg Perils of Man II. vii.:
I dinna think that I clave his helmet, but I gae him sic . . . a knab on the temple, that he was stoundit.Sh. 1891 J. Burgess Rasmie's Büddie 48:
Bit feth! at wance I lifts mi staff, An taks da lad a knaabie.

II. v. 1. To beat, strike (Slk. 1825 Jam.).Slk. 1817 Hogg Dramatic Tales II. 52:
I care not for his sword; I'll smash it all to pieces, thus! O how I'll knab him.

Hence nabby, a club for killing salmon.Per. 1827 R. Chambers Picture of Scotland II. 355:
The fishermen on the Tay have in each boat a short stick called a nabby, with which they kill the salmon; and this nabby is generally marked with the name of the particular fishing-station to which it belongs.Fif. 1866 St Andrews Gazette (25 Aug.):
The boat unfortunately had lost its nabbie, or club for killing the fish.

2. To snatch at with the teeth, to snap, try to bite, eat greedily (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.).

3. To talk affectedly. Cf. Knap, v., 5.Fif. 1895 S. Tytler Macdonald Lass iv.:
One of the cutters' captains, nabbing his English.