fob

[ fob ]

See synonyms for fob on Thesaurus.com

noun

a small pocket just below the waistline in trousers for a watch, keys, change, etc.: Compare watch pocket.
a short chain or ribbon, usually with a medallion or similar ornament, attached to a watch and worn hanging from a pocket.

the medallion or ornament itself.

Origin of fob

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

Words Nearby fob

Other definitions for fob (2 of 3)

fob²

[ fob ]

verb (used with object),fobbed, fob·bing.

Archaic. to cheat; deceive.

Verb Phrases

fob off,
- 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.
- to put (someone) off by deception or trickery: She fobbed us off with false promises.

Origin of fob

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

Other definitions for f.o.b. (3 of 3)

f.o.b.

abbreviationCommerce.

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.

Origin of f.o.b.

First recorded in 1870–75

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use fob in a sentence

The plastic charging case checks in at roughly the same size as a car key fob.
Skullcandy Dime earphones review: These wireless earbuds are a sweet deal | Billy Cadden | June 28, 2021 | Popular-Science
For those who can’t or don’t want to use a smartphone app, the government also offers TraceTogether tokens, small digital fobs that serve the same purpose.
Broken promises: How Singapore lost trust on contact tracing privacy | Bobbie Johnson | January 11, 2021 | MIT Technology Review
An over-the-air software update is being pushed to the key fobs, they said, which will better lock them down.
Hackers said they could steal a Tesla Model X in minutes. Tesla pushed out a fix. | Faiz Siddiqui | November 23, 2020 | Washington Post
They noted that the software in Tesla’s key fobs could be updated without an additional layer of security that would verify its authenticity.
Hackers said they could steal a Tesla Model X in minutes. Tesla pushed out a fix. | Faiz Siddiqui | November 23, 2020 | Washington Post
After that, they pushed out a software update to the key fobs that would “acquire a valid unlock message” so they could unlock the car later, Wouters said.
Hackers said they could steal a Tesla Model X in minutes. Tesla pushed out a fix. | Faiz Siddiqui | November 23, 2020 | Washington Post

On the valley floor outside the windows of the house are the remnants of fob Michigan, turned over to the Afghan Army in 2011.
Heart of Darkness: Into Afghanistan’s Taliban Valley | Matt Trevithick, Daniel Seckman | November 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The entire remaining Iraqi Army force remained holed up at fob Speicher, north of Tikrit.
The Paper Tiger of the Tigris: How ISIS Took Tikrit Without a Fight | Andrew Slater | June 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
McConnell can presumably fob this off on his Beltway-brained consultants.
McConnell Campaign’s Huge Duke Whopper | Michael Tomasky | March 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Jan continued to come and go as he pleased at fob Delhi, free to carry weapons and to consort with his “tea boys.”
Why Was Firefighter-Marine Reserve Maj. Jason Brezler Betrayed? | Michael Daly | November 19, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Goolsbee is an fob from Chicago; Summers is a Clintonite who parachuted in after Obama won the nomination.
After Summers, More Brawling | Peter Beinart | September 22, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
Certain, replied the man, drawing a gold watch from his fob; I expected him here before now.
Oliver Twist, Vol. II (of 3) | Charles Dickens
When the ten minutes had elapsed, Mr John Forster took his watch from the table, replaced it in his fob, and rose from his chair.
Newton Forster | Captain Frederick Marryat
He very calmly drew his watch from his fob-pocket and with the seal attached to it, passed it up to the judge.
Belford's Magazine, Vol. II, No. 3, February 1889 | Various
A very simple one is made as follows: First make a drawing of the fob with some suitable pendant as at A, Plate 46.
Copper Work | Augustus F. Rose
So he crammed a great silver watch into his fob, and drew on a patchwork morning-gown of an ancient fashion.
The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 14, No. 81, July, 1864 | Various

British Dictionary definitions for fob (1 of 4)

fob¹

/ (fɒb) /

noun

a chain or ribbon by which a pocket watch is attached to a waistcoat
any ornament hung on such a chain

a small pocket in a man's waistcoat, for holding a watch
a metal or plastic tab on a key ring

Origin of fob

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

British Dictionary definitions for fob (2 of 4)

fob²

/ (fɒb) /

verbfobs, fobbing or fobbed

an archaic word for cheat

Origin of fob

C15: probably from German foppen to trick

British Dictionary definitions for fob (3 of 4)

fob³

/ (fɒb) /

noun

NZ slang a Pacific Islander who has newly arrived in New Zealand

Origin of fob

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

British Dictionary definitions for f.o.b. (4 of 4)

f.o.b.

FOB

/ commerce /

abbreviation for

free on board

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

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