hob

¹ American  

[hob] / hɒb /

noun

1. a projection or shelf at the back or side of a fireplace, used for keeping food warm.

2. a rounded peg or pin used as a target in quoits and similar games.

3. a game in which such a peg is used.

4. Machinery. a milling cutter for gear and sprocket teeth, splines, threads, etc., having helically arranged teeth and fed across the work as the work is rotated.

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verb (used with or without object)

hobbed, hobbing

1. Machinery. to cut with a hob.

hob ² American  

[hob] / hɒb /

noun

1. a hobgoblin or elf.

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idioms

1. raise hob, to cause a destructive commotion; behave disruptively.

   They raised such hob with their antagonistic questions that the meeting broke up.

2. play hob with, to do mischief or harm to.

   The child played hob with my radio, and now it won't work at all.

hob ¹ British  

/ hɒb /

noun

1. the flat top part of a cooking stove, or a separate flat surface, containing hotplates or burners

2. a shelf beside an open fire, for keeping kettles, etc, hot

3. a steel pattern used in forming a mould or die in cold metal

4. a hard steel rotating cutting tool used in machines for cutting gears

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verb

1. (tr) to cut or form with a hob

hob ² British  

/ hɒb /

noun

1. a hobgoblin or elf

2. a male ferret

3. informal to cause mischief or disturbance

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Other Word Forms

• hobber
  noun
• hoblike
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of hob¹

First recorded in 1505–15; variant of obsolete hub “hob (in a fireplace)”; perhaps identical with hub

Origin of hob²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, special use of Hob(be), for Robert or Robin

Example Sentences

City of York Council has told the family that Hob Moor Oaks School is "over-subscribed" but has previously pledged to work with the family to find "suitable provision" for Reuben.

From BBC • Aug. 8, 2023

On that hot June night, Private Eugene Nunn was sitting at the Hob Inn bar when a white military police officer threatened to arrest him for wearing the wrong uniform.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 24, 2023

Senate Public Health Committee Chairman Hob Bryan, a Democrat from Amory, wrote the legislation that created the coordinator position and said he believes Rosamond is qualified.

From Washington Times • Oct. 25, 2020

Hob Broun was edited by Gordon Lish in the 1980s.

From Salon • Sep. 7, 2013

When they could be alone together they would talk about falconry, although Hob was naturally a silent man.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

Related Words

• gnome
• goblin
• imp
• leprechaun