Definition of
Fob
- (noun, artifact) a vest pocket to hold a pocket watch
- (noun, artifact) an adornment that hangs from a watch chain
- (noun, artifact) short chain or ribbon attaching a pocket watch to a man's vest
- (verb, social) deceive somebody
via WordNet, Princeton University
Synonyms of Fob
flim-flam, fox, play a joke on, play a trick on, play tricks, pull a fast one on, trick, watch chain, watch guard, watch pocket
Alternate forms of Fob
Hyponyms: snooker
Hypernyms: adornment, chain, cozen, deceive, delude, lead on, vest pocket
Origin of the word Fob
- 1653, "small pocket for valuables," probably related to Low Ger. fobke "pocket," High Ger. fuppe "pocket." Meaning "chain attached to a watch carried in the fob" is from 1885. more
- "to cheat," 1583, from obsolete noun fobbe "cheat, trickster" (1393), perhaps from O.Fr. forbe "cheat." Alternative etymology holds that the word is perhaps related to Ger. foppen "to jeer at, make a fool of" (see fop); or from Ger. fuppen, einfuppen "to pocket stealthily," which would connect it to fob (n.). To fob (someone) off is fir… more
via Online Etymology Dictionary, ©2001 Douglas Harper