[LINK] Stabby (was Re: Kim Carr's eBook working group is a joke)

[Stilgherrian]

On 17/04/2010, at 12:59 PM, Crispin Harris wrote:
> When did "Feeling Stabby" become such a normal, expected and common part of
> our conversational narative?
> 
> I tend to think that this is a VERY recent addition to our invective - in
> that I can't recall hearing it outside of the last 6 months.
> 
> I also think it may have come from Twitter...

It pre-dates Twitter. Urban Dictionary has citations (if that's not a grandiose word for UD) with this meaning dating back to 2006.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=stabby

It's not in the Macquarie Dictionary yet, nor the OED.

Searching ProQuest ANZ Newsstand (thanks to free online database access via the State Library of NSW), the earlier entry is FALLOW, Michael. The Southland Times. Invercargill, New Zealand: Sep 9, 1998. pg. 27:

'One report took a good idea -- the Unemployed Workers' Union goes on strike. A few stabby gags about scabs being bussed in to fill the vacant couches. A few punny lines like "We're not going to take this standing up." It was over soon enough, before the faint smile had faded from your face, but without you having laughed.'

The first Australian reference that isn't someone's nickname or referring to "stabby piano lines" in a musical performance is WATCH THISSPACE; [1 - FIRST Edition] MIKE EDMONDS, LUKE DENNEHY & CARLA DANAHER. Herald Sun. Melbourne, Vic.: May 13, 2003. pg. 021:

'BUMPER STICKER

Keep out of this one's way.

"I don't get mad, I get stabby"'

No, it definitely doesn't come from Twitter...

Stil


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