fob

[ fob ]

See synonyms for fob on Thesaurus.com

noun

a small pocket just below the waistline in pants, designed for a watch, keys, change, etc.: Compare watch pocket.
especially formerly,
- 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.

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.

Origin of fob

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

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

He or she, with lazy, vague, and windy legislation, fobs the lawmaking off on somebody we elect to execute laws.
The Federal Government Has Violated My Right to Chainsaw | P. J. O’Rourke | April 27, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Meanwhile, the consequences of putting the new FOBs—Friends of Barack—in our most desirable embassies is hard to calculate.
Obama's Man in London | Benjamin Sarlin | February 20, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
Pox take the Tailors for making the Fobs so deep and narrow!
The Beggar's Opera | John Gay
My friend, Jack-boots, now pulls out a bull's-eye watch with two fobs, and tells the time with a sort of sulky satisfaction.
The Little Red Foot | Robert W. Chambers
Fobs of gold seals, &c., were worn, and eye-glasses attached to a black ribbon is a noticeable feature.
Dress design | Talbot Hughes

I had rings on all my fingers and watches in both my fobs, canes, trinkets, and snuffboxes of all sorts.
Thackeray | Anthony Trollope
But so far from sleep was I, that I could hear their watches ticking in their fobs.
The Shoes of Fortune | Neil Munro

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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