fob
UK[fɒb]US[fɑːb]
n
a small ornament or key ring attached to a watch chain or key ring.
n
a short chain or ribbon attached to a pocket watch.
n
a small electronic device used for keyless entry, especially for a car.
v
to dispose of (goods) by deception; to palm off.
Etymology
the word 'fob' has a somewhat obscure origin, likely emerging from germanic dialects in the late 17th century. it first appeared as a cant term for a cheat or trickster, which logically extended to the verb meaning 'to cheat or deceive'. the noun sense for a small pocket or ornament for a watch chain developed shortly thereafter, possibly influenced by the low german word 'fobke', meaning 'pocket'. the modern usage for a keyless entry device is a 20th-century semantic extension, where the electronic gadget functionally replaces the traditional watch ornament attached to a chain. this journey from a term for deception to a term for a functional accessory showcases a fascinating shift from abstract action to concrete object.
Analysis
this word is considered a simplex form. its spelling does not allow for a clear segmentation into productive, meaning-bearing morphemes based on its modern english form.
Examples
he nervously twisted the fob on his keychain while waiting.
the antique watch had a silver fob depicting a crest.
i must have left my car fob on the kitchen counter.