cobby

English

Etymology

cob +‎ -y

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɒbi/

Adjective

cobby (comparative cobbier, superlative cobbiest)

1. (of an animal) Stocky.
   • 1978, John Stewart Cross, The Gloster Fancy Canary, page 9:

     In a variety that is desirous of an overall cobby outline, the neck should be short and full without a tendency to hollow between back skull and shoulder.

   • 1981, Mervin F. Roberts, The T.F.H. Book of Hamsters, page 54:

     The hamster shall be cobby, well-conditioned in body, with large head, broad skull, and short in face, blunt-nosed, avoiding all rat-like appearance.

   • 2011, David Taylor, The Complete Contented Cat: Your Ultimate Guide to Feline Fulfilment:

     The cobby cat is a solidly built animal with short, thick legs, broad shoulders and rump, and a short, rounded head with a flattish face.

   • 2019, Eduard Meinema, Deteached:

     Those are small, cobby men.

2. (of a plant) Compact with short bushy leaves.
   • 1950, Gardeners' Chronicle, Horticultural Trade Journal, page 32:

     […] and there are more of them, so presenting a leafier and more cobby bush.

   • 1915, International Brewers' Journal - Volume 51, page 357:

     This material had been made up with success from a fairly uniform, bright and compact or cobby grade of thick-skinned barley,

   • 1950, The Chrysanthemum and Dahlia, page 117:

     I formed the opinion last year in particular that the naturally rooted cuttings were more cobby and shorter jointed and kept more in conformity with growth to suit my idea of general appearance and to fit in with my stopping dates.

   • 1969, Amistad: Magazine of American Society of Mexico, page 12:

     The writer's favorite plant is a cluster of short, cobby green leaves (in shape resembling a banana), all reaching upward,

3. Stout; hearty; lively.
   • 1847, John Wright, “A Young Esquire's Arrival At Manhood”, in Anacreontic Poems, On Religious, Moral, and Pastorial Subjects, page 191:

     So I may middle life enjoy, And jaunt about, my lovely toy; We'll spend our time so cobby, Now thus, be in our hobby, And so enjoy the fashion

   • 1849, John Wright, “The Snuff subject”, in Second Work of Poems, Entitled A Gem for Every-one, page 71:

     Each one should be master now, of his own nose, But I pray you don't thus, take too strong a dose; -- A circumstance here allow me to mention, The subject of which is all good intention: The thing is so cobby, and just to the point, Of a nose, with the snuff, well nigh out of joint ---

   • 1896, Farmer's Advocate and Home Magazine - Volume 31, page 156:

     As it was, the two at head of the class were cobby in action.

   • 2013, Милеева Марина Николаевна, Радость дарить знания: Английский язык со вкусом химии, page 156:

     Give them the third task. If succeed, You'll make them very cobby.

4. Obstinate; headstrong.
   • 1993, Gordon D. Shirreffs, Shadow Valley/Fort Vengeance, page 23:

     Nothing really serious but the Owens boys was cobby and so was Niles . Didn't take much for them to tangle horns

   • 2000, Thomas Wakefield Blackburn, Patron, page 164:

     If the rest of your outfit's as cobby as you and this pair, I hope the lot of you […]

   • 2011, Georgette Heyer, The Unknown Ajax, page 71:

     There's no need for you to be fatched, lad: my Grandfather Bray was just such a cobby old fellow!

5. Arrogant.
6. Starchy and tough like a corncob rather than sweet and juicy like the kernels of corn.
   • 1945, Georgia Experiment Station, Cornell University, Bulletin:

     The aroma and flavor resembled that of cornmeal and tasted starchy and "cobby."

   • 1955, Scott Corbett, Cape Cod's Way: An Informal History, page 169:

     Another Methodist minister who had trouble with a parishioner by the good old Cape Cod name of Cobb left this record: Cobb, dismissed; too cobby; all cob and no corn."

   • 1978, Beverly K. Nye, A Family Raised on Sunshine, page 84:

     Cook it quickly in boiling water with a smidgen of sugar, and it will taste just like fresh corn and not "cobby”, as some folks complain about frozen corn.

7. Poorly made; rough and unfinished.
   • 1975 February, “Harley-Davidson SX250”, in Cycle World Magazine, volume 14, number 3, page 75:

     Once a group of design engineers finishes with a prototype, it is often very cobby. it needs to be refined and detailed.

   • 1981, Car and Driver - Volume 27, page 5:

     Early cars were cobby in appearance, but our recently produced test car looked terrific overall, and there's more dedication to come.

   • 1985, Time - Volume 126, Issues 9-17, page 103:

     By this standard, Tracy Kidder's book is not too cobby.

   • 1994 March, “Harley-Davidson Sportster XLCH Road Test”, in Walneck's Classic Cycle Trader, page 23:

     The finish is first class everywhere on the bike. Nothing is cobby or rough or hurriedly done.

   • 2005, Marty Padgett, Fifty Years with Car and Driver, page 198:

     The engine is cobby, but I figure it's just the highly tuned start-up blues.

8. Forming hard clumps.
   • 1971, Virdien L. Harrison, Financial Management Research in Farming in the United States, page 298:

     Gemson Series (clay loam, very cobby clay loam, stony, gravelly loam, Stony loam)

   • 1979, David W. James, Eugene H. Cronin, John E. Keith, Diagnostic Soil Testing for Nitrogen Availability, page 58:

     SOIL fractured sandstone bedrock 20 stony fine sandy loam, very cobby fine sandy loam 13-20 very cobby loamy fine sand 0-13 (inches)

   • 1980, Lamonte C. Bingham, Soil Survey of Helena Valley, page 24:

     The substratum is white very cobby clay loam to 50 inches.

9. Uneven or lumpy.
   • 1957, Philip Wylie, The Innocent Ambassadors, page 169:

     I sat on the bed — jumped up — and found a less cobby place.

   • 1974, Barbara Jones, Follies & Grottoes, page 286:

     one face is cobby gothick with a big quatrefoil on each side of the arch, and the other is cobby classical with alcoves.

   • 1998, Walneck's Classic Cycle Trader, September 1998, page 112:

     So even in very cobby corners, the Bonneville steers more accurately and steadily than most machines.