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Webster 1828 Edition


Abbey-lubber

AB'BEY-LUBBER

,
Noun.
A name given to monks, in contempt for their idleness.

Definition 2024


abbey-lubber

abbey-lubber

English

Noun

abbey-lubber (plural abbey-lubbers)

  1. (obsolete) term of contempt for an able-bodied idler who grew sleek and fat from the charity of religious houses; a lazy monk.[1]
    • 1681: This is no huge overgrown abbey-lubber. - John Dryden, The Spanish Fryar, III-iii

References

  1. Lesley Brown (editor), The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 5th edition (Oxford University Press, 2003 [1933], ISBN 978-0-19-860575-7), page 3
  • The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1914