cob
UK[kɒb]US[kɑːb]
n
A roundish lump or mass of something.
n
The central, woody part of an ear of corn on which the kernels grow.
n
A sturdy, short-legged horse.
n
A male swan.
n
A type of small, round loaf of bread.
Etymology
The word 'cob' presents a fascinating etymological puzzle, as its various meanings likely converged from distinct sources. Its use for a round object or lump may derive from a Middle English word meaning 'head' or 'top', related to the Old Norse 'kobbi' meaning 'seal' (a rounded creature). The sense of a sturdy horse or a male swan could be linked to the idea of a stout, rounded figure or leader. Over time, these separate strands coalesced around the core concept of a solid, rounded mass or a sturdy male animal, illustrating how a simple, phonetically robust monosyllable can accrue diverse yet conceptually related meanings.
Analysis
This word is a simplex of uncertain origin, likely from multiple Germanic sources. It functions as a base noun.
Examples
The child played with a cob of clay.
After shucking the corn, she threw the bare cob into the compost.
He rode a reliable cob along the country lanes.