1
[perhaps short for cobswan lead swan] : a male swan
2
a
dialectal, England : a rounded mass, lump, or heap
b
: a mixture of unburned clay and straw used especially for constructing walls of small houses in England
3
: a crudely struck old Spanish coin of irregular shape
often used before another noun
a cob dollar
4
5
: a stocky short-legged riding horse

Examples of cob in a Sentence

She used a knife to cut the corn from the cob. We had corn on the cob.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Plain, boiled or on the grill, most respondents eat their sweet corn in one of two ways: either across the cob or around it. Cathy Kozlowicz, jsonline.com, 19 Sep. 2025 Piggly Wiggly: Four for $2 Wisconsin bi-color sweet corn on the cob, perfect for a weekend cookout. Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 19 Sep. 2025 When finished, fold the wires in half and stack them across each other, crossing the wires until a cob shape forms. Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 2025 Brushed with mayonnaise, the cobs develop a rich and smoky flavor from the grill while a sprinkling of cotija cheese adds a touch of tanginess. Saveur Editors, Saveur, 4 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cob

Word History

Etymology

Middle English cobbe leader of a group, head; probably akin to cub (young animal), Middle English kebbe old cow or sheep, Dutch dialect kabbe, kebbe piglet

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cob was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cob.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cob. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

cob

noun
1
: a male swan
2
3
: a short-legged stocky horse

More from Merriam-Webster on cob

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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