bobnoun1
Factsheet
What does the noun bob mean?
There are 21 meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun bob, ten of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
bob has developed meanings and uses in subjects including
Entry status
OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.
How common is the noun bob?
About 0.8occurrences per million words in modern written English
How is the noun bob pronounced?
British English
/bɒb/
bob
U.S. English
/bɑb/
bahb
Where does the noun bob come from?
Earliest known use
Middle English
The earliest known use of the noun bob is in the Middle English period (1150—1500).
OED's earliest evidence for bob is from around 1400, in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
bob is of unknown origin.
Nearby entries
- boat-tail, n.1817–
- boat-tailed grackle, n.1790–
- boat train, n.1850–
- boatward, n.Old English–1500
- boat-wise, adv.1697–
- boatwoman, n.1707–
- boat work, n.1782–
- boatwright, n.1367–
- boaty, adj.1854–
- boatyard, n.1708–
- bob, n.¹c1400–
- bob, n.²c1540–1682
- bob, n.³a1566–
- bob, n.⁴c1550–
- bob, n.⁵1671–
- bob, n.⁶1879–
- Bob, n.⁷1707–
- bob, n.⁸1789–
- bob, n.⁹1823–
- bob, adj.1709–
- bob, v.¹c1320–1725