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{{Refimprove|date=September 2008}}
{{About|the cultural convention|the Arab sweet|Pekmez}}
Calling "'''''dibs'''''" is an informal convention where one declares a first claim to something to which no individual has any clearly recognized right. Calling "'''''dibs'''''" is only possible, when the caller is fit and able to take care of the claim. Such a declaration is often recognized in certain cultures, or sub-cultures, as a means to avoid arguments over relatively trivial issues.

Calling "'''dibs'''" cannot be called in advance of a relatively trival matter.

== Etymology ==
One theory for the origin of the word comes from markings made with chalk on the back of livestock up for sale in cattle yards throughout the southern states of the USA. Each potential customer would register their unique mark with a registrar at the meet, who would record this information in a "Dealer Identification Book". These books themselves came to be known collectively as DIBS. This is unlikely, as attempts to define old words and terms by reference to an [[acronym]] are generally false, due to the fact that acronyms themselves are of fairly recent invention.



The 1967 edition of ''Dictionary of American Slang'' states that the word "dibs" comes from the verb ''to divvy'' or divide something.  

Another possible origin for the word can be found in ''Webster's Dictionary'', Second Edition, dated 1937, in which the term "dibs" refers to jacks, an old children's game played a small ball and a set of jackstones or dibstones.

Essentially, "to dib" as a verb has to do with "looking down, bending down, or delving into water".<ref>{{cite book |last=Olmert |first=Michael |year=1996 |title=Milton's Teeth and Ovid's Umbrella: Curiouser & Curiouser Adventures in History |page=246 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |location=New York |isbn=0-684-80164-7}}</ref>'''Kez Scrace rules dibs, you may contact her through: your butt. 'Cause there is no reception. She don't wanna hear from you. Please wash it if you find connection, if the unceasing stench doesn't leave, please contact a dentist, it may be your breath. Don't bother as I won't pick up the line. Thankyou, Butt-smellers'''

==Usage and equivalent words==
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In [[Boston]], [[Chicago]] and [[Pittsburgh]], "dibs" also refers to the practice of [[Parking chair|holding a shoveled-out parking space after a heavy snowfall]] by putting chairs, laundry baskets, or other items in the street to mark the claimed space.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2005/12/no_one_seems_to.html |archiveurl=http://wayback.archive.org/web/20060901071726/http(contracted; show full)
== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{wiktionary-inline}}

[[Category:American cultural conventions]]