Bobble
/ˈbɒbəl/noun
To move or cause something to move in an unsteady, bouncing, or jerky way.
Did you know?“Bobble” is considered a frequentative form of “bob,” meaning it describes repeated or irregular bobbing rather than one single dip or bounce.
Etymological Timeline
16th Century
English
bob
“To move up and down suddenly, or to strike with a quick motion; the deeper origin is uncertain.”
Late 16th Century
English
bobben
“To move jerkily or bounce repeatedly; an earlier form recorded in dialectal and literary use.”
Late 16th Century
English
bobble
“A frequentative formation suggesting repeated or irregular bobbing.”
17th Century
English
bobble
“To move unsteadily or make an awkward mistake, especially in handling something.”
19th Century
English
bobble
“A small rounded tuft, knob, or ornament, formed from the associated idea of something bobbing or protruding.”
Modern English
English
bobble
“To bounce, wobble, or mishandle something in an unsteady way.”