Bob
/bɒb/noun
To move or hang with a short, quick up-and-down motion.
Did you know?English bob likely imitates a quick repeated movement, but it later became a clipped nickname for Robert, showing how sound-symbolic words can be reborn as names.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
bobben
“to move up and down; to strike lightly; to dangle”
16th Century
English
bob
“a short, jerky movement; a light blow; a dangling object”
16th Century
English
Bob
“short form of the given name Robert”
Old French
OF
Robert
“a Germanic personal name, probably meaning 'bright fame'”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
Hrodberhtaz
“'bright fame'”