1851-61. Mayhew, London Lab., i. 341. These he would engage at a bob a nob.
1856. Punch, xxx. 241. Mary Ann's Notions. Vulgar, dear. You might as well have written one for his nob—you meant it.
1892. Milliken, 'Arry Ballads, 40. Why shouldn't her stage trotter-out take his perks too at so much a nob.
2. (common).—A person of rank or position. [From Nobility: cf. Mob, Fr. mobile vulgus]. Hence to come the nob = to put on airs.—Grose (1823). See Dandy.
1703. English Spy, 255. Be unto him ever ready to promote his wishes, whether for spree or sport, in term and out of term . . . against dun or don—nob or big-wig—so may you never want a bumper of bishop.
1823. Bee, Dict. Turf, s.v. Nob. A . . . nob . . . differs from swell, inasmuch as the latter makes a show of his finery; whereas the nob, relying upon intrinsic worth, or bona-fide property, or intellectual ability, is clad in plainness.
1837. Dickens, Pickwick Papers, (ed. 1857), 12. 'Wait a minute,' said the stranger, 'fun presently—nobs not come yet—queer place. Dock-yard people of upper rank don't know Dock-yard people of lower rank—small gentry don't know tradespeople—Commissioner don't know any body.'
1840-45. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends (1862), 70. No! no!—The Abbey may do very well For a feudal nob, or poetical 'swell.'
1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, vii. The high principle that Nature's nobs felt with Nature' nobs.
1849. Thackeray, Hoggarty Diamond, iv. He was at the West End on Thursday, asked to dine, ma'am, with the tip-top nobs.
1851-61. Mayhew, Lon. Lab., 11., 56. I may observe that the nobs is a common designation for the rich among these sporting people.
1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, 11., 58. Sherrick loq. Capital house, Mr. Newcome, wasn't it? I counted no less than fourteen nobs.
1863. Reade, Hard Cash, 1., 228. Once more, [1846 Railway Mania] . . . a motley crew of peers and printers, etc. . . .; in a word, of nobs and snobs, fought and scrambled pell mell for the popular paper; and all to get rich in a day.
1870. Figaro, 18 July. Is it more cruel for a snob to shoot a sea-bird in the breeding season than it is for a nob to shoot pigeons in the breeding season, thereby starving all their young?
1888. Boldrewood, Robbery Under Arms, xli He was introduced to all the nobs.
1892. Anstey, Voces Populi, 'In the Mall on Drawing Room Day,' p. 84. All I was goin' to see was a set o' blanky nobs shut up in their blankdash kerridges.
3. (Oxford University).—See quot.
1825. The English Spy, i. 136. We must find you some more tractable personage; some good-humoured nob.[*]
[Note. * A fellow of a college].
4. (workmen's).—A knobstick (q.v.).
5. (old).—The game of prick-(or cheat-) the-garter.
1754. Discoveries of John Poulter, 10. We got about three pounds from a butterman at the Belt or nobb.
6. (old).—A sovereign; 20s.
Verb, (pugilists').—1. To strike; to get home a blow (specifically on the head): cf. nobber.
1821. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, ii, 5. Tom. I've nobb'd him on the canister.
2. (showmen's).—To collect money; to take round the hat. Fr. faire la manche.
1851-61. Mayhew, London Lab., iii., 145. When we go about the streets with tumblers . . . we also nob or gather the money.
1890. Spare Moments, 23 Aug. A good nobber or collector—always a very gentlemanly fellow—is worth every penny of his share for nobbing alone.
