cribber: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareInformal, Specialized (Equestrian), Dated (Academic Cheating)
Quick answer
What does “cribber” mean?
A person or animal that habitually copies or uses unauthorized aids.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person or animal that habitually copies or uses unauthorized aids.
Specifically: 1) A horse that habitually bites its stall and swallows air (a vice called cribbing). 2) A student or person who cheats by copying from another's work or using an illicit aid. 3) (Informal) One who constantly borrows ideas or takes things without permission.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The equestrian meaning is primary and identical in both. The 'cheater' meaning is slightly more dated in BrE but understood. 'Crib' as a verb (to copy) is/was more common in BrE academic contexts.
Connotations
In both: For horses, it denotes a specific, undesirable behavioral disorder. For people, it carries a tone of mild contempt or disappointment.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general language. Most frequent in specialist equestrian writing and older academic contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “cribber” in a Sentence
[be/become] a cribber[catch/identify] a cribber[stop/prevent] a cribberVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cribber” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The horse began to crib on the fence post.
- He was accused of cribbing in the history exam.
American English
- The gelding cribs on his stall door.
- She cribbed the answers from her friend's paper.
adjective
British English
- A cribbing horse requires special management.
- His cribbing habit was exposed.
American English
- The cribbing behavior is hard to stop.
- We bought a cribbing collar for the mare.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Could metaphorically describe a colleague who constantly steals ideas.
Academic
Dated, but denotes a student who plagiarises or copies in exams.
Everyday
Very rare. Might be used humorously for someone who 'borrows' things constantly.
Technical
Standard term in equine veterinary science and horse management for a horse with the cribbing vice.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cribber”
- Using it as a general term for 'thief'.
- Confusing it with 'crib' (baby bed) as a noun modifier (e.g., 'cribber toy' is wrong).
- Assuming it is a common modern word for a cheater.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is quite dated. Words like 'cheat' or 'plagiarist' are more common in modern English for academic dishonesty.
A cribbing horse grips a solid object (like a stall door) with its incisor teeth, arches its neck, and swallows air, producing a distinct grunting sound. This is considered a harmful vice.
It's very rare. It could be used metaphorically in a critical, informal way to describe someone who consistently takes credit for others' ideas.
A 'plagiarist' specifically steals written work or ideas and presents them as their own. A 'cribber' is broader, encompassing casual cheating (like in an exam) and the specific equine behavior. All plagiarists are cribbers in a sense, but not all cribbers (e.g., a horse) are plagiarists.
A person or animal that habitually copies or uses unauthorized aids.
Cribber is usually informal, specialized (equestrian), dated (academic cheating) in register.
Cribber: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkrɪb.ə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkrɪb.ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “There's an old cribber in every stable. (Implies the behavior is common)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BABY'S CRIB. A baby takes everything given. A 'cribber' takes (ideas, answers, air) habitually.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE/IDEAS ARE OBJECTS THAT CAN BE STOLEN. BEHAVIOR IS A VICE.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'cribber' a standard technical term?