Dab
The dab is a dance gesture originating in Atlanta's hip-hop scene during the early 2010s, executed by tucking the head into the crook of a bent elbow while simultaneously extending the opposite arm straight out parallel to the ground.[1][2] Popularized by the rap group Migos in their 2015 music video for "Pipe It Up," the move spread rapidly through social media and celebrity adoption, becoming a hallmark celebration in professional sports, particularly NFL touchdown dances by quarterback Cam Newton during the 2015-2016 season.[3][2] Its explosive cultural impact underscored hip-hop's role in shaping global trends among youth, though the dab's novelty waned by the late 2010s amid evolving dance fads and occasional institutional pushback, such as restrictions in competitive settings for perceived lack of decorum.[1]Language and common usage
As a verb
To dab is to touch or strike something lightly and gently, often repeatedly, with a soft object or substance, without rubbing or applying pressure.[4] This action typically involves a quick pat or tap, as in dabbing a surface clean with a cloth or applying a small amount of liquid sparingly.[5] For instance, one might dab perfume onto the skin or dab at a stain with a napkin to avoid spreading it.[6] The verb originates from Middle English dabben, meaning "to strike," with the earliest recorded use dating to before 1307.[7] It likely derives from North Germanic roots, akin to Old Norse dabba ("to tap" or "slap"), and may be imitative of the light tapping sound produced by the action.[8] By the mid-16th century, the sense had evolved to emphasize gentle, precise contact rather than forceful striking.[8] In practical applications, dabbing serves to apply substances irregularly or in small quantities, such as daubing paint lightly onto a canvas or blotting excess moisture from the skin.[4] This distinguishes it from broader motions like wiping or smearing, prioritizing minimal contact to preserve delicacy or control distribution.[5] Historical texts from the 14th century onward illustrate its use in contexts like cleaning or medicinal application, reflecting an enduring utility in everyday tasks requiring finesse.[7]As a noun for quantity or action
In English, "dab" as a noun denotes a small quantity of a soft, moist, or semi-liquid substance applied lightly to a surface, such as a dab of paint, butter, or perfume.[4][9] This usage emphasizes precision in application, often implying just enough to cover or accentuate without excess, as in culinary or cosmetic contexts where minimal amounts suffice for effect.[10][11] As a noun referring to action, "dab" describes a gentle, quick touch or pat, typically involving a light stroke or tap with minimal pressure, akin to blotting or dabbing at a spot to clean or apply something.[4][12] Examples include dabbing a cloth on a stain to absorb liquid or a bird's beak delivering a soft peck, highlighting the motion's brevity and delicacy rather than force.[9][13] This sense derives from the verb form, which emerged in the early 14th century as an imitative term for striking lightly, evolving to encompass the nominalized act by the same period.[8]Cultural and gestural uses
Dab (dance move)
The dab is a dance move characterized by simultaneously tucking one's head into the inner elbow of a bent arm while extending the opposite arm straight out at a diagonal angle, often with the hand parallel to the ground.[14] The motion mimics a quick head turn or sneeze into the arm, typically performed to the beat of hip-hop or trap music, and can be executed solo or in groups.[15] The dab originated in the Atlanta, Georgia, hip-hop scene during the early to mid-2010s, with early proponents including rappers Skippa da Flippa and members of the group Migos, who incorporated it into performances and music videos around 2013–2015.[1] While some accounts, such as from rapper Bow Wow, link it loosely to cannabis consumption gestures from around 2012, the move's primary development and popularization stemmed from Atlanta's trap music culture, where it served as a celebratory or stylistic flourish.[2] Attribution remains debated, as multiple local artists like Rich The Kid also claim early usage, but Migos' tracks such as "Look Alive" helped codify it through viral videos.[3] By late 2015, the dab spread rapidly via social media platforms like Vine and Snapchat, transitioning from niche rap circles to mainstream culture through adoption by athletes and celebrities. NFL quarterback Cam Newton popularized it as a touchdown celebration during the Carolina Panthers' 2015 season, performing it in at least four games that year and drawing millions of views.[16] NBA player LeBron James and soccer stars Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard further amplified its visibility with goal or dunk celebrations in 2015–2016, while entertainers like Miley Cyrus and Nicki Minaj integrated it into public appearances.[17] The move's peak coincided with broader viral dance trends, peaking in search interest and media coverage by 2016 before declining as newer gestures emerged, though it persists in niche hip-hop and meme contexts.[18] In some regions, the dab faced restrictions; Saudi Arabian authorities banned it in 2017, classifying it as a gesture promoting drug use due to its perceived ties to cannabis dabbing, with fines up to 5,000 riyals or jail time for public performance.[19] Despite such associations, empirical analysis of its spread shows causal drivers rooted in social media virality and athletic endorsement rather than substance use, as evidenced by adoption rates uncorrelated with cannabis legalization timelines in the U.S.[20]Dabbing in sports and recreation
Dabbing, a gesture involving dropping one's head into the bent elbow of one arm while extending the opposite arm outward, entered sports celebrations in 2015 after originating in Atlanta's hip-hop scene earlier that year through artists such as Skippa Da Flippa and Migos.[21][16] In American football, Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton first performed it publicly during an NFL game on October 18, 2015, following a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans, which ignited widespread adoption among players.[3][22] Newton continued the move through the 2015 season, including Super Bowl 50 on February 7, 2016, where it featured in end-zone and first-down rituals, contributing to its brief status as a national trend.[3] He retired the dab from his celebrations in June 2016.[23] The gesture proliferated across professional sports, appearing in at least four NFL instances during Week 10 of the 2015 season alone, beyond Newton.[16] In the NBA, players like LeBron James incorporated it into post-score antics, amplifying its visibility through social media.[16] Soccer saw sporadic use, but it drew scrutiny in conservative contexts; for instance, Saudi Arabian footballer Elias Beji faced potential legal repercussions in January 2018 for dabbing during a match, as authorities linked the move to cannabis consumption due to its slang association with "dabs."[24] No equivalent widespread bans occurred in Western leagues, though NFL rules on excessive celebrations occasionally penalized related antics under unsportsmanlike conduct provisions.[25] In recreational contexts, dabbing appeared in amateur athletics, youth leagues, and social gatherings as a casual victory pose or party dance, peaking alongside its professional fame in 2015–2016 before declining with shifting trends.[16] Its brevity as a fad—lasting roughly one year in mainstream sports—reflected broader patterns in touchdown and goal celebrations, which evolve rapidly amid league efforts to balance entertainment and decorum.[25][26]Substance-related uses
Cannabis concentrates (dabs)
Cannabis concentrates, commonly referred to as dabs, are highly potent extracts derived from the cannabis plant that isolate and concentrate cannabinoids, primarily tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), along with terpenes and other compounds from the plant's trichomes.[27] These products typically contain THC levels ranging from 40% to over 90%, far exceeding the 10-25% found in dried cannabis flower, enabling rapid and intense psychoactive effects upon inhalation.[28] [29] Dabs appear in various textures, such as solid, semi-solid, or oily forms, and are produced through extraction processes that separate resinous material from plant matter.[27] Common types of dabs include shatter, a glass-like, brittle extract formed by rapid cooling after solvent evaporation; wax or budder, soft and malleable due to agitation during purging; crumble, a drier, crumbly variant from extended air exposure; and live resin, made from flash-frozen fresh cannabis to preserve terpenes.[30] Solvent-based methods, such as using butane to produce butane hash oil (BHO), dominate production for many types, yielding high-purity results when properly purged of residual solvents, though incomplete purging can leave toxic hydrocarbons.[27] [31] Solventless alternatives, like rosin pressed from heat and pressure or ice water hash, avoid chemicals but often yield lower potencies around 50-80%.[29] [32] The origins of cannabis concentrates trace back thousands of years to hashish, a manually collected trichome resin used in ancient Central Asia and the Middle East, but modern dabs emerged in the mid-20th century with solvent extractions tested in the 1940s and refined by the 1970s using hydrocarbons like butane for higher yields and purity.[33] Popularity surged in the early 2010s amid legalization trends and improved extraction techniques, shifting from rudimentary methods to standardized production in regulated markets.[34] Due to their elevated THC content, dabs pose amplified health risks compared to flower, including acute intoxication symptoms like paranoia, hallucinations, and vomiting, with emergency room visits linked to overconsumption of these potent forms.[35] Chronic use may exacerbate mental health issues, such as psychosis in vulnerable individuals, as high-dose THC disrupts dopamine signaling and cognitive function more severely than lower-potency cannabis.[36] Respiratory hazards arise from inhalation of superheated vapors, potentially causing lung irritation or damage, compounded by contaminants like residual solvents or additives in unregulated products.[36] [37] In the United States, while state-legal in some jurisdictions for medical or recreational use, concentrates remain federally classified as Schedule I substances under the Controlled Substances Act.[28]Methods and equipment for dabbing
Dabbing primarily entails flash vaporizing a small quantity of cannabis concentrate—typically containing 60–90% THC—on a preheated surface, with the resultant vapor inhaled via a filtration system to mitigate harshness.[38] [39] The process leverages conduction heating, where the concentrate contacts a hot nail or banger, aerosolizing cannabinoids and terpenes at temperatures generally ranging from 200°C to 400°C, though user preferences often cluster around 250–350°C for flavor preservation and reduced thermal degradation.[39] [40] Essential equipment for traditional dabbing includes:- Dab rig: A specialized glass water pipe featuring a chamber to secure the nail and provide percolated filtration of the vapor, distinguishing it from standard flower-use bongs.[41] [38]
- Nail or banger: The heating surface, inserted into the rig; quartz offers thermal stability and flavor neutrality, titanium withstands repeated high-heat cycles, and ceramic minimizes metallic taste, with users often selecting based on durability and residue buildup.[38] [39]
- Butane torch: Employed to heat the nail to operational temperature, typically a handheld crème brûlée-style model delivering precise flame control, though it introduces burn risks if mishandled.[40] [41]
- Dab tool: A slender utensil, often titanium or glass, for scooping and placing a dab—sized akin to a rice grain—onto the nail without direct hand contact.[41]
- Carb cap: A dome or directional cap applied post-application to seal the nail, retaining heat and vapor for complete extraction while allowing controlled airflow.[38]
Biological uses
Dab (flatfish species)
The common dab (Limanda limanda) is a demersal flatfish species belonging to the family Pleuronectidae, characterized by its asymmetrical body adapted for life on the seabed.[42] Adults typically measure 25 cm in length, though specimens up to 42 cm have been recorded, with females generally larger than males.[42] The species exhibits a light brown upper side with darker spots and a white underside, enabling camouflage on sandy or muddy substrates.[42] Native to the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, the common dab inhabits coastal waters from the North Sea to the Bay of Biscay, including the southern Baltic Sea, with highest abundances in the North Sea.[43] It prefers sandy or muddy bottoms at depths ranging from a few meters to 150 m, though it is most prevalent between 20 and 40 m; juveniles occupy shallower inshore areas, often less than 1 m deep.[42][44] In colder seasons, adults migrate to deeper, muddier grounds up to 150 m.[44] The diet consists primarily of crustaceans, polychaete worms, ophiuroids, mollusks, and small fishes, with feeding intensity varying seasonally and by size class.[45] As a batch spawner, it reproduces multiple times per season, with females reaching sexual maturity at approximately 18.4 cm total length after 2.56 years and capable of producing up to one million eggs per individual at 30 cm.[45][44] Growth proceeds rapidly in early years, attaining 22–30 cm by age five, though lifespan data indicate variability influenced by environmental factors.[44] Commercially significant in European fisheries, the common dab is targeted or taken as by-catch in trawl and gillnet operations, valued for its sweet flesh and marketed fresh, frozen, smoked, or salted.[45][44] Management includes minimum landing size restrictions, such as 23–25 cm in the North Sea, Skagerrak, and Kattegat, to sustain populations amid high abundance.[46]Technological uses
Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB)
Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) is a terrestrial digital radio transmission standard that multiplexes multiple digital audio program services with ancillary data into a single ensemble for broadcast over a wide-area single-frequency network.[47] The system employs orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation to achieve robust transmission, enabling resistance to multipath interference and Doppler shift compared to analog FM.[47] It operates primarily in VHF Band III (174–240 MHz) and L-band (1,452–1,492 MHz), allowing spectrum-efficient delivery of up to 18 stereo audio services per multiplex at bit rates supporting near-CD quality audio.[48] Development of DAB originated in the Eureka 147 project initiated in 1985 by European broadcasters and manufacturers to create a successor to analog radio amid advancing digital technologies.[49] The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) formalized the core specification as ETS 300 401 in February 1995, with initial commercial transmissions launching in the United Kingdom in September 1995 and expanding thereafter.[48] An enhanced variant, DAB+, adopted the AAC+ codec in 2006 to improve audio compression efficiency, enabling higher quality at lower bit rates (e.g., 64 kbit/s for stereo) and supporting more services per multiplex; by the 2010s, DAB+ supplanted original DAB in most deployments due to its superior capacity for multimedia data like station logos and traffic updates.[50] WorldDAB, founded in 1995 as an industry consortium, coordinates global standardization and promotion, ensuring interoperability between transmitters and receivers.[51] Relative to analog FM, DAB provides advantages including consistent audio fidelity free of static or fading until signal dropout, automated station tuning by name rather than frequency, and ensemble capacity for additional non-audio services such as electronic program guides.[52] It achieves greater spectral efficiency, potentially accommodating four times more stations in equivalent bandwidth, though this depends on ensemble configuration and error correction overhead.[48] Drawbacks include the need for specialized digital receivers, which initially raised equipment costs, and potential coverage gaps in rural areas where FM's simpler propagation yields broader reach without line-of-sight dependency.[52] Early DAB implementations using MPEG-1 Layer II audio faced criticism for lower effective quality at constrained bit rates versus FM's analog Hi-Fi potential, a limitation largely addressed by DAB+'s codec upgrades.[50] As of 2025, DAB/DAB+ serves over 420 million listeners across approximately 55 countries, with national coverage exceeding 99% population reach in Norway, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Denmark.[53] Adoption remains strongest in Europe, where 26 nations have designated it as the primary digital radio platform, driven by regulatory mandates for multiplex licensing and automotive integration; for instance, Germany operates over 20,000 DAB+ transmitters nationwide.[54] In contrast, the United States favors HD Radio due to FM compatibility extensions, while Australia and parts of Asia employ DAB+ selectively.[53] WorldDAB reports sustained growth in receiver sales and vehicle fitment, projecting continued expansion amid spectrum reallocation pressures favoring digital efficiency over analog persistence.[51]Mechanical and industrial applications
The dual active bridge (DAB) converter is a bidirectional, isolated DC-DC power electronics topology employed in mechanical and industrial systems for efficient energy transfer and galvanic isolation.[55] It features two active full-bridge circuits linked by a high-frequency transformer and series inductor, with power flow controlled via phase-shift modulation between the bridges, achieving zero-voltage switching to minimize losses at high power levels up to several megawatts.[56] This design supports symmetrical operation, modularity for scaling, and soft-switching capabilities, making it suitable for demanding environments where reliability and efficiency exceed 95% are required.[57] In industrial applications, DAB converters facilitate power conversion in variable frequency drives for electric motors, enabling precise speed control in machinery such as conveyor systems, pumps, and compressors, where bidirectional flow supports regenerative braking and energy recovery.[58] They are integrated into medium-voltage DC distribution networks for factories, reducing cabling losses and enhancing fault tolerance compared to AC systems, with implementations handling voltages from 400 V to 10 kV.[59] For mechanical systems in heavy industry, DAB-based converters power arc welding equipment and inductive heating processes, providing stable current delivery and rapid response times under varying loads.[60] Emerging uses extend to hybrid mechanical-electric systems, including traction inverters for industrial vehicles and more-electric aircraft actuators, where DAB enables high-density power modules with power densities over 10 kW/L.[61] In battery energy storage systems (BESS) for grid-tied industrial facilities, DAB converters manage charge-discharge cycles with minimal harmonic distortion, supporting peak shaving and renewable integration; for instance, a 1 MW DAB unit can achieve 98% efficiency in bidirectional operation at 1 kHz switching frequency.[62] Challenges include circulation current mitigation via advanced modulation, addressed through hybrid phase-shift techniques that improve utilization by 20-30% over single-phase-shift methods.[63] These attributes position DAB as a core technology for electrifying mechanical processes, though thermal management remains critical for sustained high-power operation.[64]Geographical uses
Settlements and locations named Dab
Several villages and settlements named Dab exist worldwide, primarily in South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, often as small rural communities without significant urban development. These locations derive their names from local languages or historical designations, though etymological details vary by region and are not uniformly documented. Comprehensive geographical databases indicate at least 18 such places across 7 countries, with concentrations in India and Pakistan.[65] In India, Dab in Ganderbal district, Jammu and Kashmir, is a village in Lar tehsil with a 2011 census population of 3,609 residents across 616 households; it lies approximately 5 km from the tehsil headquarters and is situated in a hilly, agrarian area.[66][67] Another Dab village is located in Akkalkuwa tehsil, Nandurbar district, Maharashtra, about 21 km from the tehsil center, serving as a rural settlement in the Khandesh region with limited infrastructure details available from census records.[68][69] In Pakistan, a Dab village exists in Chakwal District, Punjab province, positioned near villages such as Sutwal and Kotha Abdal in a semi-arid landscape typical of the region's topography.[70] Coordinates for a site identified as Dab in this area align with broader Punjab mappings, though population figures are not specified in available surveys.[71] Other instances include a Dab village in Ad Dakhiliyah Governorate, Oman, adjacent to settlements like Zabiah and Zaybah in an inland desert-adjacent zone.[72] In Afghanistan, a location named Dab is recorded in Zabol Province at coordinates 32° 4' 52" N, 67° 13' 40" E, within a rugged, sparsely populated southeastern area.[73] Additionally, in the West Bank, Khalet a-Dab'e functions as a small Bedouin community in Masafer Yatta, Hebron Governorate, facing documented land and resource disputes as of 2024.[74]| Location | Country | Key Details | Source Coordinates/Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dab (Ganderbal) | India | Village in Jammu & Kashmir; agrarian, hilly terrain | 3,609 (2011 census)[66] |
| Dab (Akkalkuwa) | India | Village in Maharashtra; rural Khandesh region | Limited census specifics[68] |
| Dab (Chakwal) | Pakistan | Village in Punjab; semi-arid area | N/A[70] |
| Dab (Ad Dakhiliyah) | Oman | Inland village near Zabiah | N/A[72] |
| Dab (Zabol) | Afghanistan | Southeastern rural site | 32° 4' 52" N, 67° 13' 40" E[73] |
| Khalet a-Dab'e | Palestinian territories | Bedouin hamlet in Masafer Yatta | Ongoing disputes (2024)[74] |