deb
UK[dɛb]US[dɛb]
n
A debutante, especially one making her first appearance in society.
n
A person's first appearance or performance in a particular capacity or role, especially in entertainment or sports.
Etymology
The word 'deb' is a 20th-century British English abbreviation of 'debutante,' which itself derives from the French verb 'débuter,' meaning 'to lead off' or 'to make the first stroke in a game.' 'Débuter' is formed from 'dé-' (from, off) and 'but' (goal, target), originally a term from the game of bowls. The term 'debutante' was adopted into English in the early 19th century to refer to a young woman making her formal entrance into upper-class society. The clipped form 'deb' emerged as a familiar, informal term, reflecting a linguistic trend of shortening longer words for casual use, and it retains the core semantic focus of a first, formal appearance.
Analysis
This word is a clipped form (shortening) of the noun "debutante." It does not contain separable morphemes in its current spelling.
Examples
She was the most talked-about deb of the season.
The young tennis player is no longer a deb on the professional circuit.
The magazine featured a spread on the upcoming debutante ball and all the attending debs.