cobble

1 of 2

verb

cob·​ble ˈkä-bəl 

cobbled; cobbling ˈkä-b(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

chiefly British : to mend or patch coarsely

2

: repair, make

cobble shoes

3

: to make or put together roughly or hastily

—often used with together or up

cobble together an agreement

cobble up a temporary solution

cobble

2 of 2

noun

1

: cobblestone

2

cobbles plural, chiefly British : lump coal about the size of small cobblestones

Synonyms

Verb

• patch (together)
• throw together
• knock together

Examples of cobble in a Sentence

Verb

expensive leather shoes cobbled in Italy

Noun

a street paved with cobbles

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

In this context, Quino was able to cobble together a living by placing his work in many different publications, covering everything from fashion to sports. —Daniel Alarcón, New Yorker, 30 June 2025

The pair also share a taste for combining units: Strong pulled together two apartments for his two-bedroom, and Cohen spent 21 years cobbling his duplex together from four units, then renovating with color, splash and custom cabinetry. —Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 3 June 2025

Noun

But to a researcher, the cobbles screamed of something unusual. —Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 17 Apr. 2025

Representing a mix of basaltic and non-basaltic cobbles, the collection seemed strange, thanks, in part, to its composition. —Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 17 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English coblen, perhaps back-formation from cobelere cobbler

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for cobble

• bauble
• gobble
• hobble
• labile
• squabble
• wobble
• cantabile

Kids Definition

cobble

1 of 2 verb

cob·​ble ˈkäb-əl 

cobbled; cobbling -(ə-)liŋ 

: to make roughly or hastily

—often used with together or up

cobble

2 of 2 noun

: a rounded stone larger than a pebble and smaller than a boulder