fab

The word 'fab' is a modern English slang term that emerged in the mid-20th century as a clipped form of 'fabulous'. 'Fabulous' itself originates from the Latin 'fabulosus', meaning 'celebrated in fable', which derives from 'fabula' (story, tale). The semantic journey saw 'fabulous' evolve from 'mythical, legendary' to a general term of high praise meaning 'incredible, marvelous'. The clipping 'fab' captures this core sense of excellence in a brief, informal, and catchy form, popularized notably in the 1960s.

This word is a simplex clipping. It is a shortened form of the adjective 'fabulous'.