jab

Etymology

Originally a Scottish (unclear if Scots or Scottish English) form of English job (“peck, poke, thrust”), from Middle English jobben.

noun

1. A quick stab or blow; a poking or thrusting motion.
   He tore in for the ball, make a running jab for it and held it. 1952, Bernard Malamud, The Natural, Chapter 9
2. (boxing) A short straight punch.
   American Ward was too quick and too slick for his British rival, landing at will with razor sharp jabs and hooks and even bullying Froch at times. December 18, 2011, Ben Dirs, “Carl Froch outclassed by dazzling Andre Ward”, in BBC Sport
3. (Britain) A medical hypodermic injection (vaccination or inoculation)
   Our dog was exposed to rabies, so the whole family went to a clinic to get our jabs.
4. (Britain, Australia, New Zealand) A vaccination, whether or not delivered via conventional injection.
   A 'painless' sticking plaster flu jab that delivers vaccine into the skin has passed important safety tests in the first trial in people. June 28, 2017, Michelle Roberts, “Painless flu jab patch for people scared of injections”, in BBC News
5. (US, figurative) A mild verbal insult.

verb

1. To poke or thrust abruptly, or to make such a motion.
2. To deliver a quick punch.
3. (slang, UK) To give someone an injection