bobblehead
UK[ˈbɒb.əl.hed]US[ˈbɑː.bəl.hed]
n
a small model of a person or animal with a head that moves up and down or side to side on a spring.
Morpheme Breakdown
bobble
head
bobble
head
Etymology
the term is a modern compound, originating in mid-20th century american english. the first element, 'bobble', is derived from the verb 'bob', meaning to move quickly up and down, with the addition of the frequentative suffix '-le' to imply a repeated, unsteady motion. this is combined with 'head', from old english, to create a descriptive name for a novelty figurine. the word's logic is transparently literal, directly describing the toy's primary characteristic: a head that bobbles.
Analysis
Structure: bobble + head
bobble (english, frequentative verb suffix '-le' added to 'bob', meaning to move up and down repeatedly); head (old english 'hēafod', meaning the upper part of the human body).
Examples
the baseball fan had a collection of bobblehead dolls of his favorite players.
the car's dashboard was decorated with a nodding bobblehead dog.
the souvenir shop sold bobbleheads of the city's mayor as a popular keepsake.