Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1897-1911
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DOB, v.1, n.1
1. v. To prick (Sh.10, Ork.2 1948; Mry.1 1925; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 39; Bnff.2 1940; Per., Fif. Wilson; Rs. 1990s; Ork., Bnff. 2000s); “to peck as a bird” (Cai. 1905 E.D.D. Suppl.).Mry. 1897 J. Mackinnon Braefoot Sk. 179:
Please, Sir, James Phillipson dobbit me.
2. n.
(1) A prick (Cai. 1900 E.D.D.; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 39; Bnff.2 1940); “a peck by a bird” (Cai. 1905 E.D.D. Suppl.); a sting.Abd. 1911 C. Wilson in Bnffsh. Jnl. (5 Sept.) 6:
We need oor face gie weel screened in To save us fae a dob.
(2) A thorn (Mry.1 1925; Bnff.2 1940).
Hence dobbie, dobby, having spikes, prickly (Mry.1 1925; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 39; Bnff.2 1940; Per. 1915 Wilson L. Strathearn 243).
[Variant of Dab, v.1, n.1, q.v.; cf. jab and Job. The vbl.n. dobbing, pricking, is found in O.Sc. 1601.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Dob v.1, n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/dob_v1_n1>
