Definitions For Nabe

Noun

NABE (plural NABEs) neighborhood, neighborhood. (frequently, _, plural) Neighborhood theater, neighborhood cinema.

Etymology

{{clipping, en, neighborhood}}; compare hood. In attributive use, attested since 1922;“”, , American Dialect Society, 21 Aug 2012 in noun sense “neighborhood”, since 1942;{{R:OED2}} in noun sense “neighborhood theater”, since 1933, originally in New York City.

Usage notes

In “neighborhood theater” sense, frequently “the nabes”, particularly used by w:variety (magazine), variety (NYC theater magazine), but also more widely. In “neighborhood” sense, particularly New York City, but used throughout the US. Popular industry term, notably in w:billboard (magazine), billboard (NYC music industry) in 1940s–1960s,“”, Henry Grabar, The Atlantic: CityLab, Aug 27, 2012 but in 1970s and 1980s primarily confined to Brooklyn, NYC. Increased in popularity and became widespread from the 1990s, presumably as a less marked alternative to hood, , neighborhood, particularly poor black.