jab
n. countablen. a quick, sharp push or hit with something pointed. In British English, people often use this word to mean a medical injection or vaccination.
n. a quick, sharp punch or poke; in British and Commonwealth English, a common informal term for a hypodermic injection. Often used in the context of public health or sports like boxing.
I went to the clinic to get my flu jab.
The boxer used a quick jab to keep his opponent at a distance during the first round.
Public health officials launched a nationwide campaign to ensure every citizen had access to the latest booster jab before the winter season began.
Originally a Scottish (unclear if Scots or Scottish English) form of English job (“peck, poke, thrust”), from Middle English jobben.
Commonly used in British English as a synonym for 'shot' or 'vaccination'; in sports, it refers specifically to a straight punch.