释义 |
ˈribby, a. [f. rib n.1 + -y. Cf. G. rippig.] 1. Full of ribs; having prominent ribs. Also fig., suggestive of or resembling ribs.
1849Florist 50 Yellow [dahlia], tipped with white; constant, but ribby. 1851H. Melville Moby Dick II. xv. 129 In bony, ribby regions of the earth. 1924C. E. Montague Right Place ix. 122 All sorts of ribby ridges and intercostal hollows dropping down from that spine to the water-line on each side. 1934T. Wood Cobbers viii. 101 The homesteads, iron roofed and set about with ribby water-butts. 1970Daily Tel. 7 May 17/1 The fortunes of Courtaulds were founded in Victorian times on black crêpe,..a ribby material widows and mourners wore. 1977‘H. Osborne’ White Poppy xv. 118 The horses..were miserable creatures, ribby and pathetic. 2. slang. Dirty, shabby; seedy, run-down; unpleasant, nasty.
1936J. Curtis Gilt Kid 33 Nearby was a little café... Ribby kind of a gaff, but I might as well go in. 1976P. Alexander Death of Thin-Skinned Animal xx. 207 She lived at the ribby end of Maida Vale. 1977M. Russell Dial Death i. iv. 28 ‘How are—things?’ ‘Ribby’. |