# What's a "Squibb"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 7, 2010, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-squibb/542260 "2010-06-07T11:05:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-squibb/542260/1 "2010-06-07T11:05:48Z")
I re-read “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” recently. At one point, he tried to remember what his nagging wife wanted him to buy at the store; one of the possible items was “Squibb’s.” Was that a brand name, or a misspelling of “squib,” or what? ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-squibb/542260/2 "2010-06-07T11:19:46Z")
Hmmmn. I was certain that my answer of “A non-magical person born to magical parents” was going to be imminently useful here; but I see not. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-squibb/542260/3 "2010-06-07T11:30:30Z")
Probably a product of [Bristol-Myers Squibb.](http://www.bms.com/pages/default.aspx) ---
**Author:** ![BorgHunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@BorgHunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BorgHunter)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-squibb/542260/4 "2010-06-07T11:31:09Z")
I’m going to guess that it was a sort of toothpaste at the time. [Cite](http://www.historycooperative.org/journals/jah/88.2/images/tomes_f4.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-squibb/542260/5 "2010-06-07T11:33:05Z")
I immediately thought of [squib - Wiktionary, the free dictionary](http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/squib) , but somehow I wouldn’t picture Mitty’s wife as a fireworks fan. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-squibb/542260/6 "2010-06-07T11:44:39Z")
Having grown up near a Squibb plant, my immediate thought was **runner pat** ’s . The firm was run by the family for four generations, and I think it merged with Bristol Meyers after Thurber wrote his story. They made lots of pharmaceuticals, so I have no idea what Mitty’s wife wanted, but it was undoubtedly some health or beauty aid. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-squibb/542260/7 "2010-06-07T12:09:09Z")
My folks used to buy their Mineral Oil. I think my Mom used it for makeup removal. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-squibb/542260/8 "2010-06-08T02:45:25Z")
I thought it was cough drops. ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-squibb/542260/9 "2010-06-08T02:51:02Z")
It’s definitely a product of Bristol-Myers Squibb, but the problem with the toothpaste theory is that toothpaste is listed separately in the story. My guess, given the items mentioned alongside it, is shaving cream. ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-squibb/542260/10 "2010-06-08T02:52:38Z")
I have a huge, ancient bottle of Squibb’s Mineral Oil in the bathroom downstairs. I don’t recall anyone in the family actually using any of it for the last 50 years,but there it sits. ---
**Author:** ![Sinisterniik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/51bf81/32.png) [@Sinisterniik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinisterniik)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-squibb/542260/11 "2010-06-08T03:13:12Z")
Hmm… I looked, but unfortunately I threw out my old English 101 notebook… \*Thread followed, nonetheless! ---
**Author:** ![distractedactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@distractedactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/distractedactor)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2025, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-squibb/542260/12 "2025-05-18T15:19:57Z")
Squibbs was indeed a commonly used brand of mineral oil and was in just about everyone’s medicine cabinet along with Kleenex, razor blades, toothpaste, toothbrushes, bicarbonate, etc. You can Google it and find pictures of vintage bottles of it. Such as: [Squibbs on ebay](https://www.google.com/search?q=squibb+mineral+oil&rlz=1CDGOYI_enUS590US590&oq=&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCQgBECMYJxjqAjIJCAAQIxgnGOoCMgkIARAjGCcY6gIyCQgCECMYJxjqAjIJCAMQIxgnGOoCMgkIBBAjGCcY6gIyCQgFECMYJxjqAjIJCAYQIxgnGOoCMgkIBxAuGCcY6gIyCQgIECMYJxjqAjIJCAkQIxgnGOoCMgkIChAjGCcY6gIyCQgLEC4YJxjqAjIJCAwQIxgnGOoCMgkIDRAjGCcY6gIyCQgOECMYJxjqAjIJCA8QIxgnGOoCMgkIEBAjGCcY6gIyCQgREC4YJxjqAjIJCBIQIxgnGOoCMgkIExAjGCcY6gIyEQgUEAAYAxhCGI8BGLQCGOoCMhEIFRAAGAMYQhiPARi0AhjqAjIRCBYQABgDGEIYjwEYtAIY6gIyEQgXEAAYAxhCGI8BGLQCGOoCMhEIGBAAGAMYQhiPARi0AhjqAtIBCjU3NjE1OWowajeoAhmwAgHiAwQYASBf8QUG2b1ngrCNVw&hl=en-US&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#piu=ps:12&oshopproduct=pid:11105520701701369865,oid:11105520701701369865,iid:5032851609718073870,pvt:hg,pvo:19&oshop=apv&pvs=0) ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2025, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-squibb/542260/13 "2025-05-18T15:47:21Z")
Must’ve been quite the distraction for the last 15 years 🙂 Regardless, welcome to the Dope! ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2025, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-squibb/542260/14 "2025-05-18T16:00:49Z")
Not much, what’s a “Squibb” with you? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2025, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-squibb/542260/15 "2025-05-18T17:19:03Z")
> [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > Not much, what’s a “Squibb” with you? - That joke kinda fizzled. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-squibb/542260/16 "2025-05-19T11:12:27Z")
A squib bullet, in the context of firearms, refers to a firearm malfunction where the bullet doesn’t exit the barrel with the proper force due to a weak or missing [propellant charge](https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=6b7a372d33685c06&rlz=1C1RXQR_enUS1026US1026&sxsrf=AHTn8zo4mMseT9SorpRtTFf4NSxTliJduQ%3A1747653042201&q=propellant+charge&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=2ahUKEwjdrJX2sq-NAxWzETQIHSn1C5wQxccNegQIIRAB&mstk=AUtExfD3_nlO4w2KIbHxOlayJ81S4yqKUir2i45gq8c0bPuIDpM63PgXA9dMWS36KrjjhOn6STaG4NMSHob1Q5SxiNjkYg8zvU-qUhVUKNmPKAuswC1g49CKEP96mSBdSXZh1h08ycCjBAJ7YqX0KuRhg_QJ97ifW9UXhdflZXGF5ni6tYBNd0DS9DgQZjUPX8giTlwD-fuLe1l3QVmaAvE-_4mD4Be68fvOfYcCrh8C3m6Z2YZxUyYbo89GhHqM3SZvLB7TqAmU5ypUT62O-ar0TjOr&csui=3). This can also be referred to as a squib load, squib round, or pop and no kick. Sort of like ‘Failure to launch’. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-squibb/542260/17 "2025-05-19T11:41:47Z")
In show business, a squib is a device with a small explosive charge and bit of fake blood that actors use to simulate getting shot. ---
**Author:** ![sunacres](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@sunacres](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunacres)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-squibb/542260/18 "2025-05-19T12:50:32Z")
Squib Cakes is a signature tune from Tower of Power. One of the band members used the term to represent a ladies’ hindquarters. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-squibb/542260/19 "2025-05-19T20:29:12Z")
A neighbor bought squib .22s to scare away squirls from his deck. It was enough to drive the bullet out the barrel, but that’s about it. They are (according to him) a shell with just the primmer, and no powder. Beats me. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-squibb/542260/20 "2025-05-19T20:36:59Z")
So a squibb isn’t the same thing as a squib or a squab or a squid? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-squibb/542260.md?page=2)