'Dabbers'

"SIMPLY, a Dabber is someone born within the town's ancient boundaries."

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The meaning behind the phrase 'Dabber' is widely debated amongst locals. Although it refers to somebody born within Nantwich town, we're interested in the etymology behind the term. What is a Dabber? What does it refer to?

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"Dab. (v) early 14c., dabben "to strike," of unknown origin, perhaps imitative. Compare Old Norse dabba "to tap, slap." Modern sense of "strike gently with the hand, strike with a slight, quick pressure" developed by mid-16c., influenced by French dauber"

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Here are some of the theories we have come across:

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• Dabbing salt on the tongue, from the town's historic bring industry.

• A link to Nantwich town's tannery history.

• A reference to the physical act of dabbing glue onto a shoe during its manufacture.

• A reference to wattle and daub - a building method once used for the early versions of the Tudor and Georgian buildings seen around the town.

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We are fans of the wattle and daub theory, linking to the etymology description above.

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We wanted to represent all of the theories, and the divide of opinion, on our label design for Dabber's Gin.

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