Factsheet

• Word Type: Noun
• Pronunciation:
  • British English: /ˈslæb.i/
  • U.S. English: /ˈslæb.i/
  • Rhyming Words: tabby, shabby, grabby
• Field: Woodworking, New Zealand English (historical slang)
• First Known Use: 1877

Etymology

The term slabby comes from slab, referring to the waste pieces of wood left over during timber sawing. The suffix -y denotes a role or profession, making slabby a colloquial term for someone who deals with these waste materials in a sawmill.

Meaning & Use

Definition

1. Sawmill Worker: A worker in a sawmill responsible for handling or removing the leftover waste pieces of timber (slabs) created during sawing.
2. Historical Usage: Once a common role in New Zealand sawmills, the term is now considered historical and colloquial.

Quotations in Context

1. 1877:
   “The new chum who objects to being slabby at a mill.”
   — Southland Times (New Zealand)
2. 1895:
   “Everyone from the head sawyer to the ‘slabby,’ has to exert himself to the utmost to keep up his part of the work.”
   — Southern Cross (Invercargill, New Zealand)
3. 1967:
   “He was a slabby, loading slabs of useless wood onto a trolley and carting them away.”
   — R. Grover, Another Man’s Role
4. 2006:
   “Starting at the mill as a ‘slabby,’ cutting up offcuts into firewood, Colin moved through the ranks and did just about everything sawmillers do until it was time to retire.”
   — Taranaki Daily News (New Zealand)

Pronunciation

• Phonetic: /ˈslæb.i/
• Rhyming Words: tabby, shabby, grabby

The stress is on the first syllable (SLAB), with a soft, short -y sound to finish.

Examples in Everyday Use

1. Historical Context:
   • “My grandfather worked as a slabby in a New Zealand sawmill during the early 20th century.”
2. Describing a Role:
   • “The slabby’s job was crucial to keeping the sawmill clean and efficient.”
3. Narrative Usage:
   • “The clumsiest slabby in the mill still worked hard, despite the challenges.”

Synonyms

• Offcut handler
• Timber waste worker
• Sawmill laborer

Cultural and Historical Relevance

• New Zealand Sawmills: The term slabby was specific to New Zealand sawmill culture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
• Colloquial Slang: Used informally within the sawmill community, the term reflects the specialized jargon of labor roles during that period.
• Decline of Use: As sawmill processes became automated and terminology standardized, slabby fell out of regular usage.

Conclusion

Slabby is a historical term rooted in New Zealand’s sawmill industry, describing an essential but now obsolete role in managing timber waste. Its origins and usage reflect the labor-intensive nature of early woodworking practices, offering a glimpse into the cultural and industrial history of the time. Though rarely used today, it remains a testament to the evolving language of craftsmanship and industry.

4o