nob

The word 'nob' presents an etymological puzzle. Its primary slang meaning of "a person of wealth or high social position" likely originated in the late 17th century as a shortened form of 'nobleman' or perhaps from 'nabob', a term for a wealthy Anglo-Indian. The separate, older slang meaning of "head" may derive from a different source, possibly related to 'knob', referring to the rounded shape. The convergence of these two distinct slang senses into a single, short, punchy word is a classic example of linguistic economy and the playful, opaque nature of cant and colloquial speech.

This word is a simplex. It is a slang term of uncertain origin, likely emerging in the 17th century. It is not productively formed from separable English morphemes.