Dutch

Noun

zwabber m ‎(plural zwabbers, diminutive zwabbertje n)

1. A mop, implement for cleaning floors etc., especially aboard a vessel
2. Certain other nautical cleaning implements:
   1. A dradenstoffer m
   2. A zeilveger m
3. (metonymically) A cabin-boy, least senior sailor (apprentice), as he (or they) must most often do chores like manning the mop
4. A ship officer on the guard duty kuilwacht
5. (pejorative) An irresponsible person, notably:
   1. A party animal
   2. A squanderer
   3. A drunk, who staggers (compare etymology 2)
6. A dirty person
7. A dirtbag
8. (metonymically) The tail of a fish or whale

Synonyms

• (boy) scheepsjongen m; see below derived terms
• (party animal) fuifbeest n, fuifnummer n
• (squanderer) doordraaier m, verkwister m
• (drunk) dronkenlap m, zatlap m, zuipschuit m
• (dirty person) smeerpoes m

Derived terms

• zwabbergast m
• zwabberjanus m
• zwabberschap n
• zwabberkapitein m
• zwabberpaai m
• zwabberbak m
• (mops by use) brandzwabber m, dekzwabber m, handzwabber m, koelzwabber m

Related terms

• gezwabber n
• zwabberaar m
• zwabbelen
• zwabberen (verb)

Verb

zwabber

1. first-person singular present indicative of zwabberen
2. imperative of zwabberen

Etymology 2

From zwabberen, a frequentative (alongside zwabbelen) from zwabben 'to drudge, plod(der)'

Noun

zwabber m ‎(plural zwabbers, diminutive zwabbertje n)

1. A swaggerer, staggerer
2. A tramp, vagrant, hobo
3. A beggar

Synonyms

• (swaggerer) zwalper m
• (tramp) landloper m, zwerver m
• (beggar) bedelaar m

Etymology 3

Germanic, probably from English swabber, a whist term

Noun

zwabber ? ‎(plural zwabbers, diminutive zwabbertje n)

1. A form of the cards game pandoeren, without trumps or points