cobble

¹

[ kob-uhl ]

verb (used with object)

, cob·bled, cob·bling.

1. to mend (shoes, boots, etc.); patch.
2. to put together roughly or clumsily.

cobble

²

[ kob-uhl ]

noun

1. a cobblestone.
2. cobbles, coal in lumps larger than a pebble and smaller than a boulder.
3. Metalworking.
   1. a defect in a rolled piece resulting from loss of control over its movement.
   2. Slang. a piece showing bad workmanship.

verb (used with object)

, cob·bled, cob·bling.

1. to pave with cobblestones.

cobble

³

[ kob-uhl ]

noun

1. New England, New York State, and New Jersey. (especially in placenames) a rounded hill.

cobble

¹

/ ˈkɒbəl /

noun

1. short for cobblestone
2. geology a rock fragment, often rounded, with a diameter of 64–256 mm and thus smaller than a boulder but larger than a pebble

verb

1. tr to pave (a road) with cobblestones

cobble

²

/ ˈkɒbəl /

verb

1. to make or mend (shoes)
2. to put together clumsily

cobble

/ kŏb′əl /

1. A rock fragment larger than a pebble and smaller than a boulder. Pebbles have a diameter between 64 and 256 mm (2.56 and 10.24 inches) and are often rounded.

Derived Forms

• ˈcobbled, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cobble¹

First recorded in 1490–1500; apparently back formation from cobbler

Origin of cobble²

First recorded in 1595–1605; of uncertain origin; perhaps cob + -le; cobblestone

Origin of cobble³

First recorded in 1885–95; perhaps from cobble ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of cobble¹

C15 (in cobblestone ): from cob ¹

Origin of cobble²

C15: back formation from cobbler ¹

Example Sentences

“I think if we do end up going to another referendum, we have to make sure that we deal with First Nations issues… we still have people experiencing intergenerational trauma, so understanding the history of what has happened in this country is really key,” says Allira Davis, a Cobble Cobble woman and co-chair of the Uluru Youth Dialogue.

From BBC

So Pheu Thai was allowed to cobble together a coalition of 11 parties, many of them long-term enemies of Mr Thaksin, to keep Move Forward out.

From BBC

She asked whether moves the company has made to cobble together some additional sports rights — a few college football games, NASCAR, Big East college basketball and the French Open of tennis — were “enough to close the gap” after the expected loss of the NBA deal.

From Los Angeles Times

As the Biden team attempts to cobble together anything resembling a winning coalition, keeping those voters in the fold will be paramount, and Trump’s picking Vance makes it much easier for the campaign to do so.

From Slate

The alliance has won just over 230 seats and doesn’t have the numbers to cobble together a government – but more than 24 hours after counting of votes began, they are yet to concede defeat.

From BBC

Related Words

• assemble
• complete
• construct
• create
• fabricate
• mass-produce
• synthesize