Squib

n. [Cf. Prov. Eng. squib, a child's syringe.] 1. A little pipe, or hollow cylinder of paper, filled with powder, or combustible matter, and sent into the air burning, and bursting with a crack; a cracker. Lampoons, like squibs, may make a present blaze. Waller. The making and selling of squibs is punishable. Blackstone.

2. [Allied to quib and quip.] A sarcastic speech, or little censorious writing published; a petty lampoon; a brief, witty essay.
3. A pretty fellow. [Obs.]

The squibs, in the common phrase, are called libelers. Tatler.