Difference between revisions of "Bob"
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'''Bob''' has several meanings. ''[[OED]]'' lists ten [[noun]]s and seven [[verb]]s, many of which are rare or obsolete. Some of the connections and differences are obscure. The following may be of use to readers of AWE. | '''Bob''' has several meanings. ''[[OED]]'' lists ten [[noun]]s and seven [[verb]]s, many of which are rare or obsolete. Some of the connections and differences are obscure. The following may be of use to readers of AWE. | ||
*{{shortname|Bob|Robert|informal|Bobbie/Bobby; Rab(bie); Robby; Dob; Hob; Nob(by); Robin|}} | *{{shortname|Bob|Robert|informal|Bobbie/Bobby; Rab(bie); Robby; Dob; Hob; Nob(by); Robin|}} | ||
| + | **"Bob's your Uncle" | ||
*The commonest meaning of the [[verb]] appears to be 'to move up and down'. Ducks '''bob up and down''' on the waves, and fruits may '''bob''' on the branches of fruit trees in wind. This gives rise to | *The commonest meaning of the [[verb]] appears to be 'to move up and down'. Ducks '''bob up and down''' on the waves, and fruits may '''bob''' on the branches of fruit trees in wind. This gives rise to | ||
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*bell-ringing | *bell-ringing | ||
| + | |||
| + | *shilling | ||
*dry-bob | *dry-bob | ||
Revision as of 12:20, 4 March 2010
Bob has several meanings. OED lists ten nouns and seven verbs, many of which are rare or obsolete. Some of the connections and differences are obscure. The following may be of use to readers of AWE.
- Bob is a short form of the forename Robert. There are two main types of such shortenings: they are convenient for writing, e.g. in lists; or they are essentially spoken pet-names, and thus informal. (See Conventional abbreviations for forenames.)
| Short form | Long form | Informal or written | Other short forms | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bob | Robert | informal | Bobbie/Bobby; Rab(bie); Robby; Dob; Hob; Nob(by); Robin |
There is a list of similar names at Conventional abbreviations for forenames, as well as the category:short names
- Note that any informal form may be spelled in different ways. Notably, any spelling listed that ends in '-ie' may be written with the ending '-y', and vice versa.
- "Bob's your Uncle"
- The commonest meaning of the verb appears to be 'to move up and down'. Ducks bob up and down on the waves, and fruits may bob on the branches of fruit trees in wind. This gives rise to
- bunch - flowers, fruit
- rounded lump - plumb
- haircut
- bob & wheel
- curtsey
- bell-ringing
- shilling
- dry-bob
