Possible to defer loading of jQuery?

Here is a good description of modern approach for async/defer javascript loading. But it doesn't works for inline scripts

<script type="text/javascript" src="/jquery/3.1.1-1/jquery.min.js" defer></script>
<script type="text/javascript" defer>
    $(function () {   //  <- jquery is not yet initialized
      ...
    });
</script>

The simplest solution for async loading was suggested by @nilskp - externalize script:

<script type="text/javascript" src="/jquery/3.1.1-1/jquery.min.js" defer></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="resources/js/onload.js" defer></script>

Try this, which is something I edited a while ago from the jQuerify bookmarklet. I use it frequently to load jQuery and execute stuff after it's loaded. You can of course replace the url there with your own url to your customized jquery.

(function() {
      function getScript(url,success){
        var script=document.createElement('script');
        script.src=url;
        var head=document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0],
            done=false;
        script.onload=script.onreadystatechange = function(){
          if ( !done && (!this.readyState || this.readyState == 'loaded' || this.readyState == 'complete') ) {
            done=true;
            success();
            script.onload = script.onreadystatechange = null;
            head.removeChild(script);
          }
        };
        head.appendChild(script);
      }
        getScript('http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.5.2/jquery.min.js',function(){
            // YOUR CODE GOES HERE AND IS EXECUTED AFTER JQUERY LOADS
        });
    })();

I would really combine jQuery and jQuery-UI into one file and use a url to it. If you REALLY wanted to load them separately, just chain the getScripts:

getScript('http://myurltojquery.js',function(){
        getScript('http://myurltojqueryUI.js',function(){
              //your tab code here
        })
});

As this is a top ranking question on a important subject let me be so bold to provide my own take on this based on a previous answer from @valmarv and @amparsand.

I'm using a multi-dimensional array to load the scripts. Grouping together those that have no dependencies between them:

var dfLoadStatus = 0;
var dfLoadFiles = [
      ["http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.7.1/jquery.min.js"],
      ["http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jqueryui/1.8.11/jquery-ui.min.js",
       "/js/somespecial.js",
       "/js/feedback-widget.js#2312195",
       "/js/nohover.js"]
     ];

function downloadJSAtOnload() {
    if (!dfLoadFiles.length) return;

    var dfGroup = dfLoadFiles.shift();
    dfLoadStatus = 0;

    for(var i = 0; i<dfGroup.length; i++) {
        dfLoadStatus++;
        var element = document.createElement('script');
        element.src = dfGroup[i];
        element.onload = element.onreadystatechange = function() {
        if ( ! this.readyState || 
               this.readyState == 'complete') {
            dfLoadStatus--;
            if (dfLoadStatus==0) downloadJSAtOnload();
        }
    };
    document.body.appendChild(element);
  }

}

if (window.addEventListener)
    window.addEventListener("load", downloadJSAtOnload, false);
else if (window.attachEvent)
    window.attachEvent("onload", downloadJSAtOnload);
else window.onload = downloadJSAtOnload;

It loads first jquery after it is loaded it continue to load the other scripts at once. You can add scripts easy by adding to the array anywhere on your page:

dfLoadFiles.push(["/js/loadbeforeA.js"]);
dfLoadFiles.push(["/js/javascriptA.js", "/js/javascriptB.js"]);
dfLoadFiles.push(["/js/loadafterB.js"]);