/ ˈbɒbl; NAmE ˈbɑːbl/ noun , verb
■ noun
( BrE ) a small, soft ball, usually made of wool, that is used especially for decorating clothes
SYN pompom :
a woolly hat with a bobble on top
—picture at bobble hat
■ verb ( informal )
1.
[ v ] to move along the ground with small bounces :
The ball somehow bobbled into the net.
2.
[ vn ] ( NAmE ) to drop a ball or to fail to stop it :
She tried to catch the ball but bobbled it.
3.
[ v ] ( BrE , informal ) ( of a piece of clothing, especially one made of wool ) to become covered in very small balls of fibre
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WORD ORIGIN
1920s: diminutive of bob the hairstyle .