General
nab
What does nab mean?
By extension, to grab or steal a thing quickly — the verb survives in plain modern English.
"Nab the purse and run; don't stand gawping."
Origin
Recorded in canting glossaries from the 17th century, including B.E. (1699) and Grose (1785). 'Nab' for head and 'nab-cheat' for hat are listed there; the verb 'to nab' (seize) became general English. The two senses likely share the idea of taking by the head.
Frequently asked questions
What does nab mean in thieves' cant?
The head — and a 'nab-cheat' was a hat. As a verb, to nab meant to seize, catch or arrest.
Is nab still used today?
Yes — the verb 'to nab', meaning to grab or arrest, passed from cant into everyday English.
What is a nab-cheat?
A hat — 'cheat' was a cant suffix for a thing, so a nab-cheat was the head-thing, the hat.
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