I. ˈbäbəl verb
( bobbled ; bobbled ; bobbling -b(ə)liŋ ; bobbles )
Etymology: freq. of bob (I)
intransitive verb
1. : bob I vi 1 a (1)
a basketball bobbling on the rim of the basket for a moment before dropping in
laughed … so that her black wig bobbled — M.F.K.Fisher
2. : to make an error or mistake (as in baseball or football) : fumble
the catcher bobbled at a crucial point
transitive verb
: muff , fumble
bobble an easy infield grounder
II. noun
( -s )
1. : a repeated bobbing movement
the bobble of the cork in the rough water
2. : a small ball ; especially : one in a series of tiny yarn balls used on an edging
3. : error , mistake
a man who can laugh at his own bobbles and stick to his job — Time
especially : an error consisting of momentarily juggling the ball in baseball or fumbling it in football
lost the game because of two bobbles by a single ball carrier