nob

¹

[ nob ]

noun

1. Slang. the head.
2. Cribbage. Sometimes his nobs. the jack of the same suit as the card turned up, counting one to the holder.

nob

²

[ nob ]

noun

, Chiefly British Slang.

1. a person of wealth or social importance.

nob

¹

/ nɒb /

noun

1. the jack of the suit turned up
2. one for his nob
   the call made with this jack, scoring one point

nob

²

/ nɒb /

noun

1. slang.
   a person of social distinction

nob

³

/ nɒb /

noun

1. slang.
   the head

nob

⁴

/ nɒb /

noun

1. taboo.
   a variant spelling of knob

Derived Forms

• ˈnobby, adjective
• ˈnobbily, adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of nob¹

First recorded in 1690–1700; perhaps variant of knob

Origin of nob²

1745–55; earlier knabb (Scots), nab; of uncertain origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of nob¹

C19: of uncertain origin

Origin of nob²

C19: of uncertain origin

Origin of nob³

C17: perhaps a variant of knob

Example Sentences

A San Francisco man suspected of vandalizing a Nob Hill mosque was arrested Wednesday evening while visiting the scene of his alleged crime for the second time in as many days.

From Los Angeles Times

The scene was filmed at VJ Grocery, a real family-owned corner store in the Nob Hill neighborhood of San Francisco.

From New York Times

Cable car No. 53 took a special Valentine’s Day ride up Nob Hill in San Francisco on Wednesday morning, including a stop outside the Fairmont Hotel, where the car was officially dedicated to the singer Tony Bennett, who died in July at age 96.

From New York Times

Informal observations of supermarkets I frequent, including Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Cardenas, Nob Hill Grocery, Smart & Final and numerous smaller grocers near my home in East Oakland, confirm that extreme security like that at the Rockridge Safeway remains the exception for now.

From Los Angeles Times

Housing: San Francisco legislators have halted a project that would have replaced a single-family Nob Hill home with 10 townhouses, after neighbors objected to the plan, The San Francisco Chronicle reports.

From New York Times