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Since the early 19th century, of disputed origin. Most commonly thought to be from dibstones(“counters used in a game with the same name”). Also from dib(“to tap”) or related to northern English dip(“small depression in the ground”), or a shortened version of divide.
2011 March 23, “We asked mayoral candidates: Do you support 'dibs' on parking spots?”, in Chicago Sun-Times:
Del Valle has the blessing of a garage, so he doesn't have to claim “dibs” on shoveled street spots himself, he said.
2012 February 16, “Our View: Public Employees Bill of Rights Act all wrong”, in Appeal-Democrat:
It aims to give unionized California government workers "more workplace discipline protections and first dibs on state government work," as the Sacramento Bee put it.
1874, John William Kirton, The Temperance Hand-Book:
Besides what is thus consumed, the village makes about 180,000 pounds of raisins , one third of which is for home consumption , and about 24,000 pounds of dibs, ( grape molasses , ) all of which is for home use