lob

¹

[ lob ]

verb (used with object)

, lobbed, lob·bing.

1. Tennis. to hit (a ball) in a high arc to the back of the opponent's court.
2. to fire (a missile, as a shell) in a high trajectory so that it drops onto a target.
3. Cricket. to bowl (the ball) with a slow underhand motion.
4. to throw (something) slowly in an arc.

verb (used without object)

, lobbed, lob·bing.

1. Tennis. to lob a ball.

noun

1. Tennis. a ball hit in a high arc to the back of the opponent's court.
2. Cricket. a ball bowled with a slow underhand motion.
3. British Dialect. a slow, heavy, dull-witted person.

lob

²

[ lob ]

noun

1. lobworm.

lob

¹

/ lɒb /

noun

1. short for lobworm

lob

²

/ lɒb /

noun

1. a ball struck in a high arc
2. cricket a ball bowled in a slow high arc

verb

1. to hit or kick (a ball) in a high arc
2. informal.
   to throw, esp in a high arc

Other Words From

• lobber noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of lob¹

1325–75; in earlier sense, to behave like a lob ( Middle English lobbe, lob bumpkin, clumsy person, originally pollack; Old English: spider; basic sense, something pendulous); cognate with Middle Low German, Middle Dutch lobbe dangling part, stockfish, etc.

Word History and Origins

Origin of lob¹

C17 (in the sense: pendulous object): related to lob ¹

Origin of lob²

C14: probably of Low German origin, originally in the sense: something dangling; compare Middle Low German lobbe hanging lower lip, Old English loppe spider

Example Sentences

Staring at a midterm catastrophe, the Democrats lob increasingly desperate charges.

From The Daily Beast

The lob may have a long history, but it's also having a moment.

From The Daily Beast

Walters took the opportunity to lob some off-the-cuff softball questions.

From The Daily Beast

And, I lay low on holidays since the bad guys tend to lob rockets to help us celebrate.

From The Daily Beast

That would make the $40 million in salaries owed each year to the Lob City Duo enough to put the Clippers deep into the red.

From The Daily Beast

After rain, when rivers or brooks are somewhat beyond their usual bounds, a well scoured lob worm will take the best of fish.

From Project Gutenberg

I have experienced many sandstorms in Takla-makan and the Lob-nor desert, but hardly any so bad as this was.

From Project Gutenberg

I had heard in the Lob country similar tales of the sorrow of the swans when their union was dissolved by death.

From Project Gutenberg

Kolwah is a well-cultivated district lying to the south of the river, which in its upper course is known as the Lob.

From Project Gutenberg

Once in his match against Bill Johnston he was within a point of set and down from the sky a high short lob was descending.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• flip
• hurl
• loft