Definitions for: Bob


[n] a short abrupt inclination (as of the head); "he gave me a short bob of acknowledgement"
[n] a short or shortened tail of certain animals
[n] a small float usually made of cork; attached to a fishing line
[n] a hanging weight, especially a metal ball on a string
[n] a long racing sled (for 2 or more people) with a steering mechanism
[n] a hair style for women and children; a short haircut all around
[n] a former monetary unit in Great Britain
[v] cut hair in the style of a bob; "Bernice bobs her hair these days!"
[v] make a curtsy; usually done only by girls and women; as a sign of respect; "She curtsied when she shook the Queen's hand"
[v] remove or shorten the tail of an animal
[v] move up and down repeatedly; "her rucksack bobbed gently on her back"
[v] ride a bobsled; "The boys bobbed down the hill screaming with pleasure"



Webster (1913) Definition: Bob, n. [An onomatopoetic word, expressing quick, jerky
motion; OE. bob bunch, bobben to strike, mock, deceive. Cf.
Prov. Eng. bob, n., a ball, an engine beam, bunch, blast,
trick, taunt, scoff; as, a v., to dance, to courtesy, to
disappoint, OF. bober to mock.]
1. Anything that hangs so as to play loosely, or with a short
abrupt motion, as at the end of a string; a pendant; as,
the bob at the end of a kite's tail.

In jewels dressed and at each ear a bob. --Dryden.

2. A knot of worms, or of rags, on a string, used in angling,
as for eels; formerly, a worm suitable for bait.

Or yellow bobs, turned up before the plow, Are
chiefest baits, with cork and lead enow. --Lauson.

3. A small piece of cork or light wood attached to a fishing
line to show when a fish is biting; a float.

4. The ball or heavy part of a pendulum; also, the ball or
weight at the end of a plumb line.

5. A small wheel, made of leather, with rounded edges, used
in polishing spoons, etc.

6. A short, jerking motion; act of bobbing; as, a bob of the
head.

7. (Steam Engine) A working beam.

8. A knot or short curl of hair; also, a bob wig.

A plain brown bob he wore. --Shenstone.

9. A peculiar mode of ringing changes on bells.

10. The refrain of a song.

To bed, to bed, will be the bob of the song.
--L'Estrange.

11. A blow; a shake or jog; a rap, as with the fist.

12. A jeer or flout; a sharp jest or taunt; a trick.

He that a fool doth very wisely hit, Doth very
foolishly, although he smart, Not to seem senseless
of the bob. --Shak.

13. A shilling. [Slang, Eng.] --Dickens.


Bob, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bobbed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Bobbing.] [OE. bobben. See Bob, n.]
1. To cause to move in a short, jerking manner; to move (a
thing) with a bob. ``He bobbed his head.'' --W. Irving.

2. To strike with a quick, light blow; to tap.

If any man happened by long sitting to sleep . . .
he was suddenly bobbed on the face by the servants.
--Elyot.

3. To cheat; to gain by fraud or cheating; to filch.

Gold and jewels that I bobbed from him. --Shak.

4. To mock or delude; to cheat.

To play her pranks, and bob the fool, The shrewish
wife began. --Turbervile.

5. To cut short; as, to bob the hair, or a horse's tail.


Bob, v. i.
1. To have a short, jerking motion; to play to and fro, or up
and down; to play loosely against anything. ``Bobbing and
courtesying.'' --Thackeray.

2. To angle with a bob. See Bob, n., 2 & 3.

He ne'er had learned the art to bob For anything but
eels. --Saxe.

To bob at an apple, cherry, etc. to attempt to bite or
seize with the mouth an apple, cherry, or other round
fruit, while it is swinging from a string or floating in a
tug of water.

Synonyms: bobber, bobfloat, bobsled, bobsled, bobsleigh, bobtail, British shilling, cork, curtsy, dock, dock, shilling, tail

See Also: arrange, bob about, bob around, bow, bow down, British monetary unit, cent, coif, coiffe, coiffure, coiffure, cut, do, dress, fishing gear, fishing rig, fishing tackle, float, greet, hair style, hairdo, inclination, inclining, kite tail, move, pendulum, plumb, plumb bob, plummet, recognise, recognize, rig, set, sled, sled, sledge, sleigh, sleigh, sounding lead, tackle, tail, weight

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