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bob¹

(bŏb)

v. bobbed, bob·bing, bobs

v.intr.

1. To move up and down: a cork bobbing on the water.

2. To grab at floating or hanging objects with the teeth: bobbed for apples.

3. To fish with a bobber.

4. To curtsy or bow.

v.tr.

To cause to move up and down: bobbed my head in response to the question.

1. A quick, jerky movement of the head or body.

2. A bobber used in fishing.

Phrasal Verb:

bob up

To appear or arise unexpectedly or suddenly.

[Middle English bobben, to move up and down, probably ultimately of imitative origin.]

bob²

(bŏb)

1. A small, knoblike pendent object, such as a plumb bob.

2. A small lock or curl of hair.

3. A haircut that hangs evenly above the shoulders, often around the chin, worn especially by women or children.

4. Informal Surgical shortening or reshaping of the nose.

5. The docked tail of a horse.

a. A bobsled.

b. A bob skate.

tr.v. bobbed, bob·bing, bobs

To cut short or reshape: bobbed her hair; had his nose bobbed.

[Middle English bobbe, cluster of fruit.]

bob³

(bŏb)

n. pl. bob
Chiefly British

A shilling.

[Origin unknown.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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