What is the word for reserving something for yourself before others do?

Question

In English-speaking TV shows, characters sometimes say something similar to *dips* to say to other people they are taking something for themselves before others do.Neither Google, Wiktionary or Urban Dictionary give positive results for this so the word may be misspelled.What is the word and what is its origin?

Answer 1

The word you're referring to is dibs. Here's the entry for it in the Oxford English Dictionary (the bible of the English language):

"A children's word used to express a claim or option on some object (frequently int.); chiefly in to get (etc.) dibs on (something), to have first claim to. U.S. colloquial."

Basically, it's a colloquial or slang word in American English meaning you claim something for yourself. You'll often hear it with the verb call: "I call dibs on the first pancake!" (say you want the first greasy pancake) or "Dibs on shotgun!" (say you want to ride in the passenger seat of the car).

Everyone respects dibs. You call it, you got it!