"short, jerking motion," 1386, probably connected to M.E. bobben "to strike, beat" (c.1280), perhaps of echoic origin. Another early sense was "to make a fool of, cheat" (c.1320). As a slang word for "shilling" it is attested from 1789, but the signification is unknown.
"short hair," 1688, attested 1577 in sense of "a horse's tail cut short," from earlier bobbe "cluster" (as of leaves), c.1340, a northern word, perhaps of Celtic origin (cf. Ir. baban "tassel, cluster," Gael. babag). Used over the years in various senses connected by the notion of "round, hanging mass," e.g. the meaning "weight at the end of a line" (1659). The hair sense was revived with a shift in women's styles early 20c. (verb 1918, noun 1926). Related words include bobby pin (1936); and bobby socks (1943), which are "shortened" (compared to knee-socks); derivative bobby-soxer first attested 1944. Also bobsled (1839), a short type.
Bob\, n. [An onomatopoetic word, expressing quick, jerky motion; OE. bob bunch, bobben to strike, mock, deceive. Cf. Prov. Eng. bob, n., a ball, an engine beam, bunch, blast, trick, taunt, scoff; as, a v., to dance, to courtesy, to disappoint, OF. bober to mock.]1. Anything that hangs so as to play loosely, or with a short abrupt motion, as at the end of a string; a pendant; as, the bob at the end of a kite's tail. In jewels dressed and at each ear a bob. --Dryden. 2. A knot of worms, or of rags, on a string, used in angling, as for eels; formerly, a worm suitable for bait. Or yellow bobs, turned up before the plow, Are chiefest baits, with cork and lead enow. --Lauson. 3. A small piece of cork or light wood attached to a fishing line to show when a fish is biting; a float. 4. The ball or heavy part of a pendulum; also, the ball or weight at the end of a plumb line. 5. A small wheel, made of leather, with rounded edges, used in polishing spoons, etc. 6. A short, jerking motion; act of bobbing; as, a bob of the head. 7. (Steam Engine) A working beam. 8. A knot or short curl of hair; also, a bob wig. A plain brown bob he wore. --Shenstone. 9. A peculiar mode of ringing changes on bells. 10. The refrain of a song. To bed, to bed, will be the bob of the song. --L'Estrange. 11. A blow; a shake or jog; a rap, as with the fist. 12. A jeer or flout; a sharp jest or taunt; a trick. He that a fool doth very wisely hit, Doth very foolishly, although he smart, Not to seem senseless of the bob. --Shak. 13. A shilling. [Slang, Eng.] --Dickens.
Bob\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bobbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Bobbing.] [OE. bobben. See Bob, n.]1. To cause to move in a short, jerking manner; to move (a thing) with a bob. "He bobbed his head." --W. Irving. 2. To strike with a quick, light blow; to tap. If any man happened by long sitting to sleep . . . he was suddenly bobbed on the face by the servants. --Elyot. 3. To cheat; to gain by fraud or cheating; to filch. Gold and jewels that I bobbed from him. --Shak. 4. To mock or delude; to cheat. To play her pranks, and bob the fool, The shrewish wife began. --Turbervile. 5. To cut short; as, to bob the hair, or a horse's tail.
Bob\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bobbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Bobbing.] [OE. bobben. See Bob, n.]1. To cause to move in a short, jerking manner; to move (a thing) with a bob. "He bobbed his head." --W. Irving. 2. To strike with a quick, light blow; to tap. If any man happened by long sitting to sleep . . . he was suddenly bobbed on the face by the servants. --Elyot. 3. To cheat; to gain by fraud or cheating; to filch. Gold and jewels that I bobbed from him. --Shak. 4. To mock or delude; to cheat. To play her pranks, and bob the fool, The shrewish wife began. --Turbervile. 5. To cut short; as, to bob the hair, or a horse's tail.
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