to jib
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
To start aside, to back out; a "jibbing horse'* is one that is easily startled. It is probably from the sea-term, to gybe, i.e. to change tacks by bearing away before the wind.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “to jib” mean?
To start aside, to back out; a "jibbing horse'* is one that is easily startled. It is probably from the sea-term, to gybe, i.e. to change tacks by bearing away before the wind.
Is “to jib” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.