fob

¹ American  

[fob] / fɒb /

noun

1. a small pocket just below the waistline in pants, designed for a watch, keys, change, etc.

2. especially formerly,

   1. a short chain or ribbon, usually with a medallion or similar ornament, attached to a watch and worn hanging from a pocket.

   2. the medallion or ornament itself.

3. key fob.

   The fob allows students 24/7 access into the residence building and their rooms.

   I could never find my nail clipper in my purse, so now I’m using it as a fob on my keychain.

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fob ² American  

[fob] / fɒb /

verb (used with object)

fobbed, fobbing

1. Archaic. to cheat; deceive.

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verb phrase

1. fob off

   1. to cheat someone by substituting something spurious or inferior; palm off (often followed byon ).

      He tried to fob off an inferior brand on us.

   2. to put (someone) off by deception or trickery.

      She fobbed us off with false promises.

f.o.b. ³ American  

Or F.O.B.

abbreviation

Commerce.

1. 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.

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fob ¹ British  

/ fɒb /

noun

1. a chain or ribbon by which a pocket watch is attached to a waistcoat

2. any ornament hung on such a chain

3. a small pocket in a man's waistcoat, for holding a watch

4. a metal or plastic tab on a key ring

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fob ² British  

/ fɒb /

verb

1. an archaic word for cheat

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fob ³ British  

/ fɒb /

noun

1. slang a Pacific Islander who has newly arrived in New Zealand

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f.o.b. ⁴ British  

abbreviation

1. free on board

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Etymology

Origin of fob¹

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

Origin of fob²

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

Origin of f.o.b.³

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

The doors typically don’t unlock when I approach the car until I pull out the key fob and hit the unlock button.

From The Wall Street Journal

It heard he should have been identified as a threat and action taken sooner after he was reported as suspicious by a member of the public, who was "fobbed off".

From BBC

The shock came days later when he took the car to a local Kia dealership to ask about a faulty button on the key fob designed to access the boot.

From BBC

In the Anaheim Hills incidents, one of the vehicles was stolen by thieves accessing the key fob signal through an antenna.

From Los Angeles Times

The sunny showroom now features two spacious rooms filled with Vivier’s signature handbags and colorful “bits, bobs, straps and fobs,” according to the store’s window.

From Los Angeles Times