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dobbin

American  
[dob-in] / ˈdɒb ɪn /

noun

  1. a horse, especially a quiet, plodding horse for farm work or family use.

  2. a drinking vessel of the 18th century holding a gill.


dobbin British  
/ ˈdɒbɪn /

noun

  1. a name for a horse, esp a workhorse, often used in children's tales, etc

  2. a trolley for moving loose wool in a woolshed or shearing shed

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of dobbin

First recorded in 1590–1600; alteration of Robin, diminutive or pet name of Robert

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

While Winnie monopolized Brigit, Ella went to her bedroom and opened her little red door to find the family's dirt dobbin perched on the canopy of her bed.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton

“Sometimes the hay we gets ain’t the sweetest o’ perfoomery, dobbin, old chummie; then I appeals to polly, cause you see if polly can eat it so kin i.

From The Cruise of the Land-Yacht "Wanderer" Thirteen Hundred Miles in my Caravan by Gordon Stables

Which i must now dror to a klose, dobbin, and which i does hope you’ll allers have a good home and good shoes, dobbin, till you’re marched to the knacker’s.

From The Cruise of the Land-Yacht "Wanderer" Thirteen Hundred Miles in my Caravan by Gordon Stables

The meal was put in the wagon, the horse unhitched, the wagon mounted, the goad picked up and a thrust made, but dobbin was in no hurry.

From A Study of Hawthorne by George Parsons Lathrop

The cove was lagged for prigging a   peter with several stretch of dobbin from a drag; the   fellow was transported for stealing a trunk, containing   several yards of ribband, from a waggon.

From 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose

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