dobber

Meanings

noundobber (plural dobbers)

plural dobbers

alternativeAlternative form of dauber (“marker pen used for bingo cards”).
Said she wasn't going but she went still / Likes her gentlemen not to be gentle / Was it a Mecca dobber or a betting pencil?
2007, “Fluorescent Adolescent”, in Johanna Bennett, Alex Turner (lyrics), Favourite Worst Nightmare, performed by Arctic Monkeys
UKderogatoryA member of the working class in Scotland or Ireland who is seen as undereducated, with poor taste, especially in clothes, and poor social skills.
AustraliaUKderogatoryOne who dobs (someone) (informs against them or implicates them to authority).
Nikki is such a dobber, she told the teacher that I hit Karen in the playground.
3 more examples
In awakening us to our powerlessness, whistleblowers produce all sorts of crisscrossed emotions. Should we respond to them as truth-bearing ethical citizens, or spiteful, griping dobbers?
1999, William De Maria, Deadly Disclosures: Whistleblowing and the Ethical Meltdown of Australia, page 16
‘Not only that,’ Graeme continued, ‘but Simone′s a dobber – and no-one likes a dobber, do they, K?[…]’
2010, Lisa Heidke, What Kate Did Next, page 125
The question was whether the dobber had simply dobbed or whether he had planted the weapons.
2011, James Morton, Susanna Lobez, Gangland Melbourne, page 95
Synonyms: snitch, snitcher, tattletale
UKinformalAny small electronic device that plugs directly into a larger one, such as a wireless scoring system in fencing or a USB mass storage device.
IrelandUKdialectalA large marble.
They were the biggest rosary beads I ever saw, the beads were the size of big marbles or dobbers or taws. Dobbers and taws we used to play with in the channels beside the footpaths, when we used to play the road games.
2004, Austin O'Donovan, O'Donovan from Garryowen, page 37
USregionalA float (as used by an angler).
In attaching this dobber or float, tie it on as short a tippet as you can manage and attach it to the leader from four to six feet above the nymph.
2007, William G. Tapply, Trout Eyes: True Tales of Adventure, Travel, and Fly-Fishing, page 191
Synonyms: bobber
USbroadlyfigurativelyregionalSpirit, pluck, self-esteem.
I went to the ballgame [in San Francisco] in April, and I was booed. I never was before that. It affected my dobber, my psyche.
1978, Robert Pack, Jerry Brown, the Philosopher-prince, Scarborough House
2 more examples
Well, I got my dobber down, and I thought I was on my way back to Montreal. And I recall sitting down at the end of the dugout by myself and feeling damn dejected, I'll tell ya.
2010 January 1, Peter Golenbock, Paul Dickson, Bums: An Oral History of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Courier Corporation, →ISBN
"Be patient, honey," Jim kept telling her. "Life will get better. You know it will. Keep your dobber up, as my grandmother always said.”
2013 September 17, Mike Roos, One Small Town, One Crazy Coach: The Ireland Spuds and the 1963 Indiana High School Basketball Season, Indiana University Press, →ISBN, page 18
A dabchick.
rareagricultureA part of a planter.
Plate 17. The wheels of a potato planter which are adjustable on the axle to control row spacing, while the ‘dobbers’ may have their position adjusted around the slots in the wheels (Farmland Museum, Haddenham)
1976, Percy W. Blandford, Old Farm Tools and Machinery: An Illustrated History, David & Charles, →ISBN
1 more example
[…] including their soil block planter, tractor mounted and suitable for use in 1.8 and 1.9m systems. The standard machine is fitted with 35 by 7cm rear depth wheels and a 55cm diameter drum, complete with bands of dobbers spaced at 30cm.
1977, GC & HTJ: Gardeners' Chronicle and Horticultural Trade Journal, volume 182, page 29
IrelandNorthern EnglandScotlandUKespeciallyslangA penis, especially a relatively large one.
"You should ha'e cut his dobber off," Inan opined with disgust. "I can'y stand men like that. Tryin' to take what isna on offer."
2023 September 28, Lynsay Sands, Bad Luck Vampire: Book Thirty-Six, Hachette UK, →ISBN
2 more examples
He puts a hand around it, tries to mind what it means, the having of a penis. Nothing's doing but. His dobber's no sure about it either, and the two of them dither there for a while, waiting for something to happen, a connection.
2011 July 7, Ross Raisin, Waterline, Penguin UK, →ISBN
"Yes, but to jump into bed with another woman right after being with you. That's just plain disgusting. He needs to keep his dobber in his bloody pants.' Caitlin huffed indignantly.
2021 July 8, Lisa Hobman, Under An Italian Sky: Escape to beautiful Italy with bestseller Lisa Hobman, Boldwood Books Ltd, →ISBN
Synonyms: anaconda, baloney pony, bald-headed hermit, banana, bird, birdie, bobby, boonga