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Fob vs Frob - What's the difference?

fob | frob |

As nouns the difference between fob and frob

is that fob is a little pocket near the waistline of a pair of trousers or in a waistcoat or vest to hold a pocketwatch; a watch pocket while frob is any small device or object (usually hand-sized) which can be manipulated.

As verbs the difference between fob and frob

is that fob is to cheat, to trick, to take in, to impose upon someone while frob is to manipulate objects considered to be frobs.

As an initialism FOB

is forward operating base.

As an acronym FOB

is free On Board.

fob

English

Etymology 1

* High German

Noun

(en noun)
  • A little pocket near the waistline of a pair of trousers or in a waistcoat or vest to hold a pocketwatch; a watch pocket.
    • 1711 Jonathan Swift , Windsor Prophecy :
  • :* With a saint at his chin and a seal at his fob .
  • A short chain or ribbon to connect such a pocket to the watch.
  • A small ornament attached to such a chain. (See Usage Notes below)
  • A hand-held remote control device used to lock/unlock motor cars etc.
    • Usage notes
    * The Jonathan Swift quote indicates that the word "fob" at that time period did not specifically apply to an object attached to the chain or watch. * A "fob" attached directly to the watch serves as an ornament and or as a grip for more easily pulling the watch from the watch pocket. * A fob attached to a drooping chain would be mainly an ornament.

    Etymology 2

    (etyl)

    Alternative forms

    * fub

    Verb

    (fobb)
  • (archaic) To cheat, to trick, to take in, to impose upon someone.
    • 1604 William Shakespeare , Othello, iv, 2:
  • :* I think it is scurvy, and begin to find myself fobbed in it.
  • (archaic) To beat; to maul.
    • Derived terms
    * to fob off

    References

    * 1897 Universal Dictionary of the English Language , Robert Hunter and Charles Morris, eds., v 2 p 2146.

    Anagrams

    * *

    frob

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (jargon, MIT) Any small device or object (usually hand-sized) which can be manipulated.
    • Hand me that frob there, will you?

    Verb

  • (jargon, MIT) To manipulate objects considered to be frobs.
    • Hey, frob the switch.
  • (jargon, MIT) To manipulate equipment without any knowledge.
    • Hey! Stop frobbing that oscilloscope! You'll break it.

    Related terms

    * frobnicate * frobnitz * tweak * twiddle

    References

    * frob'', in ''The New Hacker's Dictionary , 1996, by Eric S. Raymond. * *