cobbles

cobble¹ (ˈkɒb^əl)

—n
1.	short for cobblestone
2.	geology a rock fragment, often rounded, with a diameter of 64--256 mm and thus smaller than a boulder but larger than a pebble

—vb
3.	(tr) to pave (a road) with cobblestones

[C15 (in cobblestone): from cob¹]

'cobbled¹

—*adj*

cobble² (ˈkɒb^əl)

—vb
1.	to make or mend (shoes)
2.	to put together clumsily

[C15: back formation from cobbler¹]

cobbles (ˈkɒb^əlz)

—*pl n*
1.	coal in small rounded lumps
2.	cobblestones

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source

Etymonline

Word Origin & History

cobble

"paving stone," late 14c., probably a dim. of cob.

cobble

"to mend clumsily," 1496, probably from cob, perhaps via a notion of lumps.

American Heritage

Science Dictionary

cobble

(kŏb'əl) Pronunciation Key
A rock fragment larger than a pebble and smaller than a boulder. Pebbles have a diameter between 64 and 256 mm (2.56 and 10.24 inches) and are often rounded.

Example sentences

Colluvium consists dominantly of boulders and cobbles derived from weathering of bedrock.

In this reach of the creek, the bed materials are predominantly gravel and cobbles.

Out of it all, she cobbles together her best set in years.

The main corridor linking six small office blocks within the complex is a

village street, complete with cobbles and wayside trees.

Upgrade to Ad-free Premium Membership!

Matching Quote

"As for them saying theres no God I wouldnt give a snap of my two fingers for all their learning why dont they go and create something I often asked him atheists or whatever they call themselves go and wash the cobbles off themselves first when they go howling for the priest and they dying and why why because theyre afraid of hell on account of their bad conscience ah yes I know them well who was the first person in the universe before there was anybody that made it all who ah that they dont know neither do I so there you are they might as well try to stop the sun from rising tomorrow the sun shines for you he said the day we were lying among the rhododendrons on Howth head....."

-James Joyce