2034: Various Meanings of 'Cob' Jul 10, 2020

'Cob' in Old English meant 'spider', hence 'cobwebs', but that is not the same one as in 'corn-on-the-cob'. Indeed, the word has many unrelated meanings, including 'a mound of clay or coal', 'a head', 'a male swan', and 'a short-legged horse' and a 'bread roll'. Some others have been argued to be from different though unknown etymologies, but the oldest sense of 'cob' meant 'strong man; leader'. From this it is believed that the rest came about, basically in the sense that each are sturdy or at least round. That said, with these old monosyllabic words, it is often difficult to discern if the common thread is coincidental or not.

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