dobby

American  

[dob-ee] / ˈdɒb i /

noun

• dobbies
  plural

1. British Dialect. a fatuous person; fool.

2. Textiles.

   1. an attachment on a loom, used in weaving small patterns.

   2. Also called dobby weave.  a small geometric or floral pattern produced by this attachment.

   3. a fabric having such a pattern.

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dobby British  

/ ˈdɒbɪ /

noun

1. an attachment to a loom, used in weaving small figures

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• dobbies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of dobby

1685–95; akin to dial. dovie stupid, imbecile, derivative of dove to doze, dote, Old English dofian, dobian; cognate with German toben to rage; compare Old English dobende decrepit

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dobby dobbies

At the Manchester Royal Jubilee Exhibition, Messrs. Butterworth & Dickinson, Burnley, showed Catlow's patent dobby, which is illustrated above, as applied to a strong calico loom.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 647, May 26, 1888 by Various

It is a light, narrow cloth made with a coloured border which is often so elaborate as to require a dobby loom for its manufacture.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 5 "Cosway" to "Coucy" by Various

When, however, more than 4 leaves are required for the weaving of a pattern, a dobby loom, of the nature of that shown in Fig.

From The Jute Industry: from Seed to Finished Cloth by T. Woodhouse

But I’m doitered, And doting like a dobby.

From Krindlesyke by Wilfrid Wilson Gibson

Falling in love iz like falling into mollassiss, sweet but dreadful dobby.

From The Complete Works of Josh Billings by Henry W. Shaw

Also included in the spring 2006 sportswear line are shorts and casual pants in sueded twills, enzyme washed dobbies and yarn dye plaids.

From Time Magazine Archive