scob

plural scobs

1. businessA flaw in which the weft misses a few warp threads.

   A scob, again, is a blemish in the cloth arising from the interruption of the threads in shedding, preventing the proper interlacing of the warp and the weft.

   1846, George White, A practical treatise on weaving, page 123

   3 more examples

   The weft stopper will stop the loom when the weft is exhausted in the shuttle; and when a warp thread breaks in the shed in a position to make a scob or float, the scob preventor will also stop the loom, and an apparatus may also be applied to change the shuttle without stopping the loom;

   1863, John Wilson, The Theory and Practice of the Art of Weaving, page 114

   Ere she could obey his orders, however, the seed-box slipped to the floor, and from it rolled over thirty sixpences, the missing scobs in the weft, which Wattie had so carefully preserved for the winter's campaign.

   1881, Thomas Dykes, “When Wanlockhill Played New Cumheid”, in Stories of Scottish Sports, page 64

   I think the freedom from such casualties is due to the fact that, in Scotland, no woman works more than two looms, and thus can very quickly detect the formation of a 'scob' or any other defect which would cause a shuttle to fly.

   1900, Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons, Sessional Papers - Volume 11, page 39

2. Winchester CollegeA wooden box with two lids, used as a storage box and movable desk.

   In School we had our scobs, two rows of them on the north side, one on the south.

   1936, John Sampson Furley, Winchester in 1867, page 23

   3 more examples

   Possessed of the keys, the boys broke into Mr. Goddard's apartments, and blocked up the passage of communication between them and the Warden's lodging with scobs.

   1878, Henry Cadwallader Adams, Wykehamica, page 146

   Afternoon school [at Winchester] lasted from two till six; in the vast schoolroom, lighted at that time only by candles in the sconces; the boys sitting at their “scobs” or movable desks, while the commoners were accommodated also at friendly scobs, or sat at two long "commoner tables."

   2012, William A. Reid, Curriculum as Institution and Practice

   The need for a writing surface and space to store the larger number of books now being used by the pupils no doubt brought the scob into being.

   2020, Malcolm Seaborne, The English School: Its Architecture and Organization 1370-1870

present singular third person scobs · participle present scobbing · participle past scobbed · past scobbed

1. businessTo create a scob.

   But still it may be tripped by the shed in its course; or the work may be scobbed by the shuttle running under, or over, the shed

   1846, George White, A practical treatise on weaving, page 75

   3 more examples

   To go beyond that is at the expense of the yarn, as it has then to bear an unnecessary strain, and it is apt to scob the warp and skift the weft while the shuttle is in motion .

   1893, William Leggatt, Letterpress, page 70

   This will take out the reed marks and, of course, by having the lower beams there is less liability to scobbing and skifting, which are great faults.

   1915, Indian Industries and Power - Volume 12, page 363

   This morning I have a letter from Laurence Hogan telling me that you have been scobbing in the mill since the murders and of course I am shocked to hear it.

   1992, Nancy F. Cott, History of Women in the United States, page 632

2. coal miningTo pack a wagon with large pieces on top so as to hide gaps resulting from it not being completely filled.

   James and the miners referred to it as “scobbing up the coal”, which merely meant that they were getting the last useable coal available from the mine.

   2007, Drew Hudson, In the Field of Black Diamonds, page 116

   1 more example

   Yes, that was one of the principal grievances; that a man should stand on the hill to see justice done between man and man; there may be what we call scobbing.

   1836, Selection of Reports and Papers of the House of Commons, page 86

3. To scrape or pound.

   “I scobbed him right in the nose and down he went ass-over-tin-cup!” he boasted.

   2008, Patricia Cornwell, Isle Of Dogs

   4 more examples

   This lass, Nelly Long, was dressish and dapper, And tho' our Dick was a good-looking lad, She scobbed him, and scoffed him, for she was a snapper, And said as right how, that she war'nt to be had.

   1824, Mr Merryman, Comic songs and recitations, page 25

   “Okay,” said the dark, barrel-chested kid, “Whynt we just have the same captains as yesterday?” “Yeah, but not the same teams.” “Too lopsided.” “That was a slaughter." “We got scobbed."

   1978, Baseball I Gave You All the Best Years of My Life, page 27

   I met her on the mountain And there I tuck her life; I met her on the mountain And scobbed her with my knife.

   1985, Richard Cooper, Zeb Vance: Leader in War and Peace, page 47

   I'm like the steel scaffoldin ovver the road when a scobbed stone's rung against a tube of it, cus I'm ringin with the shock, me hands clamped ter the edge of me mattress.

   2009, Jacob Polley, Talk of the Town