swabber noun¹. ['swɒbǝ] L16.
[Early mod. Dutch zwabber, ult. from Germanic base meaning 'sway', 'splash in water', repr. also in Middle & mod. Low German swabben splash, sway, slap, Norwegian svabba splash, wade, Low German swabber (German Schwabber) a mop, a swab, Dutch zwabberen to mop.]
1. Hist. A member of a ship's crew whose task was to swab the decks etc. L16.
b. transf. Any person cleaning up with a mop. rare. E18.

2. As a term of mild abuse: a loutish person. Cf. SWAB noun¹ 2. Now rare or obsolete. E17.

3. A mop; spec. one for cleaning ovens. E17.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲

swabber noun². ['swɒbǝ] obsolete exc. Hist. L17.
[Perh. same word as SWABBER noun¹.]
In pl., a variety of whist in which the holder of the ace of hearts, the jack of clubs, or the ace or two of trumps, was entitled to part of the stakes; sing. any of these cards so used in this game.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲