bob 1
/bob/ , n. , v. , bobbed, bobbing .
n.
1. a short, jerky motion: a bob of the head.
v.t.
2. to move quickly down and up: to bob the head.
3. to indicate with such a motion: to bob a greeting.
v.i.
4. to make a jerky motion with the head or body.
5. to move about with jerky, usually rising and falling motions: The ball bobbed upon the waves.
6. bob up , to emerge or appear, esp. unexpectedly: A familiar face bobbed up in the crowd.
[ 1400-50; late ME bobben. See BOB 2 ]
bob 2
/bob/ , n. , v. , bobbed, bobbing .
n.
1. a style of short haircut for women and children.
2. a docked horse's tail.
3. a dangling or terminal object, as the weight on a pendulum or a plumb line.
4. a short, simple line in a verse or song, esp. a short refrain or coda.
5. Angling.
a. a knot of worms, rags, etc., on a string.
b. a float for a fishing line.
6. a bobsled or bob skate.
7. Scot. a bunch, cluster, or wad, esp. a small bouquet of flowers.
8. Obs. See walking beam .
v.t.
9. to cut short; dock: They bobbed their hair to be in style.
v.i.
10. to try to snatch floating or dangling objects with the teeth: to bob for apples.
11. Angling. to fish with a bob.
[ 1300-50; ME bobbe (n.) spray, cluster, bunch (of leaves, flowers, fruit, etc.); of uncert. orig. ]
bob 3
/bob/ , n. , v. , bobbed, bobbing .
n.
1. a tap; light blow.
2. a polishing wheel of leather, felt, or the like.
v.t.
3. to tap; strike lightly.
[ 1350-1400; ME bobben to strike, beat, perh. imit. See BOP 2 ]
bob 4
/bob/ , n. , pl. bob . Brit. Informal.
a shilling.
[ 1780-90; perh. from BOB ]