20kWEB: Origin of the word Daub. Etymology of the word Daub. Etymology Dictionary.

DAUB, to smear over. (F.,—L.) M.E. dauben, to smear; used to translate Lat. linire, Wyclif, Ezek. xiii. 10, 11; and see note 3 in Prompt. Parv. p. 114.—O.F. dauber, occurring in the sense of 'plaster.' See a passage in an O.F. Miracle, pr. in the Chaucer Society's Originals and Analogues, part III; p. 273; l. 639. 'Que n’i a cire se tant non C’un po daube le limaignon' = there is no wax [in the candles] except as much as to plaster the wick a little. (Quoted by Mr. Nicol, who proposes the etymologies here given of daub and of O.F. dauber.) The earlier form of this O.F. word could only have been dalber, from Lat. dealbare, to whitewash, plaster. [Cf. F. aube from Lat. alba (see Alb), and F. dorer from Lat. deaurare.] β. This etymology of dauber is confirmed by Span. jalbegar, to whitewash, plaster, corresponding to a hypothetical Lat. derivative dealbicare. [Cf. Span. jornada from Lat. diurnata; see Journey.] γ. From Lat. de, down; and albare, to whiten, which is from albus, white. See Alb. ¶ The sense of the word has probably to some extent influenced that of dab, which is of Low G. origin. And it has perhaps also been confused with W. dwb, plaster, whence dwbio, to daub; Gael. dob, plaster, whence dobair, a plasterer; Irish dob, plaster, whence dobaim, I plaster. [†]

ADDENDA

Mr. Nicol's etymology of daub, given above, is clinched by the fact that, in the Liber Custumarum, we have the Anglo-French form daubours, pl. daubers, at p. 99, whilst at p. 52 the Lat. form is dealbators.

Etymology Dictionary

Origin of the word DAUB. Etymology of the word DAUB.