Cobbing
/ˈkɒbɪŋ/noun
The act of striking with a cob or using cob as a verb in some dialectal or specialized senses.
Did you know?English cob is an old, rough, lump-like word with multiple dialectal branches, and one of its oldest senses is tied to something blunt, rounded, or striking rather than anything elegant.
Etymological Timeline
Old English / Early Germanic
Germanic
*kobb- / *kub-
“A rounded lump, mass, or projecting knoll; later extended in some dialects to bluntness or roughness.”
Middle English
English
cobbe
“A lump, rounded mass, or blunt object; also used in dialect for a strong or sturdy creature.”
Late Middle English
English
cobben
“To strike or beat; in some regional uses, to hit with a cob or blunt object.”
Modern English
English
cobbing
“The act of striking or beating, or a dialectal/derived verbal noun from cob.”
Explore more surprising origins