Part 1237

<hw>Boat"wom`an</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. <plw>Boatwomen</plw> <tt>(<?/)</tt>.</plu> <def>A woman who manages a boat.</def>

<h1>Bob</h1> <Xpage=161>

<hw>Bob</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[An onomatopoetic word, expressing quick, jerky motion; OE. <ets>bob</ets> bunch, <ets>bobben</ets> to strike, mock, deceive. Cf. Prov. Eng. <ets>bob</ets>, n., a ball, an engine beam, bunch, blast, trick, taunt, scoff; as, a v., to dance, to courtesy, to disappoint, OF. <ets>bober</ets> to mock.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Anything that hangs so as to play loosely, or with a short abrupt motion, as at the end of a string; a pendant; <as>as, the <ex>bob</ex> at the end of a kite's tail</as>.</def>

<blockquote>In jewels dressed and at each ear a <b>bob</b>. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A knot of worms, or of rags, on a string, used in angling, as for eels; formerly, a worm suitable for bait.</def>

<blockquote>Or yellow <b>bobs</b>, turned up before the plow, Are chiefest baits, with cork and lead enow. <i>Lauson.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>A small piece of cork or light wood attached to a fishing line to show when a fish is biting; a float.</def>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>The ball or heavy part of a pendulum; also, the ball or weight at the end of a plumb line.</def>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>A small wheel, made of leather, with rounded edges, used in polishing spoons, etc.</def>

<p><b>6.</b> <def>A short, jerking motion; act of bobbing; <as>as, a <ex>bob</ex> of the head</as>.</def>

<p><b>7.</b> <fld>(Steam Engine)</fld> <def>A working beam.</def>

<p><b>8.</b> <def>A knot or short curl of hair; also, a bob wig.</def>

<blockquote>A plain brown <b>bob</b> he wore. <i>Shenstone.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>9.</b> <def>A peculiar mode of ringing changes on bells.</def>

<p><b>10.</b> <def>The refrain of a song.</def>

<blockquote>To bed, to bed, will be the <b>bob</b> of the song. <i>L'Estrange.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>11.</b> <def>A blow; a shake or jog; a rap, as with the fist.</def>

<p><b>12.</b> <def>A jeer or flout; a sharp jest or taunt; a trick.</def>

<blockquote>He that a fool doth very wisely hit, Doth very foolishly, although he smart, Not to seem senseless of the <b>bob</b>. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>13.</b> <def>A shilling.</def> <mark>[Slang, Eng.]</mark>

<i>Dickens.</i>

<h1>Bob</h1> <Xpage=161>

<hw>Bob</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Bobbed</er> <tt>(#)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Bobbing</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[OE. <ets>bobben</ets>. See <er>Bob</er>, <tt>n.</tt>]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To cause to move in a short, jerking manner; to move (a thing) with a bob.</def> "He <i>bobbed</i> his head."

<i>W. Irving.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To strike with a quick, light blow; to tap.</def>

<blockquote>If any man happened by long sitting to sleep . . . he was suddenly <b>bobbed</b> on the face by the servants. <i>Elyot.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To cheat; to gain by fraud or cheating; to filch.</def>

<blockquote>Gold and jewels that I <b>bobbed</b> from him. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>