fob

¹

[ fob ]

noun

1. a small pocket just below the waistline in pants, designed for a watch, keys, change, etc. Compare watch pocket ( def ).
2. especially formerly,
   1. a short chain or ribbon, usually with a medallion or similar ornament, attached to a watch and worn hanging from a pocket.
   2. the medallion or ornament itself.
3. key fob:

   The fob allows students 24/7 access into the residence building and their rooms.

   I could never find my nail clipper in my purse, so now I’m using it as a fob on my keychain.

fob

²

[ fob ]

verb (used with object)

, fobbed, fob·bing.

1. Archaic. to cheat; deceive.

verb phrase

1. 1. to cheat someone by substituting something spurious or inferior; palm off (often followed by on ):

      He tried to fob off an inferior brand on us.

   2. to put (someone) off by deception or trickery:

      She fobbed us off with false promises.

f.o.b.

³

or F.O.B.

abbreviation for

, Commerce.

1. free on board: without charge to the buyer for goods placed on board a carrier at the point of shipment:

   automobiles shipped f.o.b. Detroit.

fob

¹

/ fɒb /

noun

1. slang.
   a Pacific Islander who has newly arrived in New Zealand

f.o.b.

²

abbreviation for

1. free on board

fob

³

/ fɒb /

verb

1. an archaic word for cheat

fob

⁴

/ fɒb /

noun

1. a chain or ribbon by which a pocket watch is attached to a waistcoat
2. any ornament hung on such a chain
3. a small pocket in a man's waistcoat, for holding a watch
4. a metal or plastic tab on a key ring

Word History and Origins

Origin of fob¹

First recorded in 1645–55; origin uncertain; compare dialectal German Fuppe, Low German Fobke “pocket”

Origin of fob²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English fobben; perhaps cognate with German foppen “to delude, kid, tease” ( fop ) or, alternatively, akin to French fourbe “cheat, swindler” (from Old French forbir “to clean”; furbish ( def ) )

Origin of fob³

First recorded in 1870–75

Word History and Origins

Origin of fob¹

C20: from f ( resh ) o ( ff ) ( the ) b ( oat )

Origin of fob²

C15: probably from German foppen to trick

Origin of fob³

C17: probably of Germanic origin; compare German dialect Fuppe pocket