1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act iii., Sc. 3. Tom. Now then, what's to pay, landlord? Mace. All out, vill be fourteen bob and a kick, your honour. Tom. Well, there's a flimsy for you; serve the change out in max to the covies. (Gives money.)
1837. Barham, I. L. (Misadventures at Margate). I changed a shilling—(which in town the people call a bob).
1882. Punch, vol. LXXXII, p. 74, col. I. Accommodation. Swell. 'Haw—no small change about me.' Minstrel. 'Oh, don't mention't sar. A bob will do sar, and if you'll call at my club tomorrow, sar, the hall portar will give you sixpence back, sar. My kyard, sar, etc.!!'
2. (old.) — A shoplifter's assistant; one who receives and carries off stolen goods. In French he is called un nonne or un noune.
3. (old.)—Gin.—See quotations in Bobstick, and Drinks for synonyms.
1749. 'Honours of the Fleet,' quoted in Ashton's The Fleet, p. 286. H' had strain'd his credit for a Dram of Bob.
4. (military.)—An infantry soldier; generally light-bob, i.e., a soldier of the light infantry. [This is probably an allusion to their being enlisted with the Queen's shilling or bob.] For synonyms, see Mudcrusher.
1844. W. H. Maxwell, Sports and Adventures in Scotland, xxxv., 282. Me, that never . . . listened to a light-bob.
1848. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, ch. xxiv. Mr. Stubble, as may be supposed from his size and slenderness, was of the light-bobs.
5. (Winchester College)—A large white jug containing about a gallon in measure, and used for beer.
1870. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 85. Each end and Præfect's mess had their beer served up in a large white jug, or 'bob.' The vessel used for the same purpose in Commoners' was called a 'Joram.'
1888. T. A. Trollope, What I Remember. Only those 'Juniors' attended whose office it was to bring away the portions of bread and cheese and bobs of beer for consumption in the afternoon.
Adj. (old).—Lively; nice; in good spirits.
1721. Cibber, Refusal, I., sp. 109. Yesterday at Marybone, they had me all Bob as a Robin, [m.]
1864. Miss Yonge, Trial, I., 113. 'That's a nice girl' . . . 'Bobber than bobtail.' [m.]
Verb (old).—To cheat; to trick; to disappoint. Also to bob out of.
1605. Tryall Chev., I., in Bullen's O. Plays, iii., 273. I had rather dye in a ditch than be bobd of my fayre Thomasin.
1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Bob(v.), to jog, touch, or give notice by some such like sign; also a cant word for to trick or cheat.
Intj. (familiar).—Stop! That's enough!
1889. Modern Society, June 6. 'Say when,' said Bonko, taking up a flagon of whiskey and commencing to pour out the spirit into my glass. 'Bob!' replied I.
Dry bob, phr. (old).—Fruitless coition.
Dry bob, Wet bob, subs. (Eton College). — The first-named is one who devotes himself to cricket or football and other land sports; the latter one who goes in for rowing and aquatics generally. The origin of the term is doubtful.—See Dry bob and Wet bob.
1844. Disraeli, Coningsby, p. 42. 'It is settled, the match to-morrow shall be between Aquatics and Dry bobs,' said a senior boy.
1874. Saturday Review, Aug., p. 212. The friendly rivalry between England and America led some while ago to a contest between the wet bobs, to use an Eton phrase, of either country, and it was only fair that the dry bobs should show what they could do.
