to invest with any name, character, dignity, or title; style; name; call

He was dubbed a hero.

to strike lightly with a sword in the ceremony of conferring knighthood; make, or designate as, a knight

The king dubbed him a knight.

to strike, cut, rub, or make smooth, as leather or timber. ?

dub bright

Shipbuilding . to shave off the outer surface of the planking of (a ship).

verb

baptize , bestow , call , christen , confer , denominate , designate , entitle , knight , nickname , style , tag , term , title , boggle , botch , bungler , copy , duffer , flub , fluff , label , muff , name , poke , rerecord , thrust

noun

botcher , bungler , foozler