Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
COBLE, Cowble, v. and n.1 [kɔbl Sc., but ne. and m.Sc. + kobl and Rxb. + kʌubl]
I. v.
1. intr.
(1) To rock (Bnff.2, Abd.2, Arg.1 1936); “to float undulatingly, as a buoyant object on wavelets” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., cowble, obs.). Vbl.n. coblan.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 29:
Fin a wiz gain' across the widden briggie, it keepit sic a coblan it a thocht it wid 'a' been doon ilky meenit.Rxb. 1825 Jam.2:
A stepping stone is said to coble, when it moves under one who steps on it.
Hence cobly, adj., “liable to rock, shake, or undulate” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).
†(2) Of ice: to undulate when walked on (Rxb. 1825 Jam.2, coble, cowble). Given in Watson Rxb. W.-B. (1923) as obs.
†(3) “To play at see-saw” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).
(4) In steel-rolling mills, of a plate: to be rejected because it rocks, not having been properly flattened (Lnk. 1975).
2. tr. To cause to rock (Bnff.2, Abd.19 1936).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 29:
Dinna coble the pleht, or ye'll spill the milk.
†II. n.
1. “A rocking motion” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 29).
2. “A see-saw or titter-totter” (Rxb. 1825 Jam.2; 1923 Watson W.-B., obs.).
3. The game of see-saw (Ib.).
4. A rejected plate from a steel-rolling mill (Lnk. 1975). See I. 1. (4) above.
[Apparently connected with cobble, a rounded stone, one which would not remain steady if trodden on, or with Coble, n.2, a small boat being easily rocked. Cf. Cockle, v.2]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Coble v., n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 1 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/coble_v_n1>
