Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A mechanical part in a loom that controls the harnesses so as to permit weaving of small geometric figures.
- noun A small geometric figure woven into fabric.
- noun A fabric with such figures.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A fool; a childish old man.
- noun A sprite or apparition.
- noun Same as
dobby-machine .
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun (Weaving) An apparatus resembling a Jacquard for weaving small figures (usually about 12 - 16 threads, seldom more than 36 - 40 threads).
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun A device in some
looms that allows theweaving of small, geometric patterns - noun The patterns so woven, or the fabric containing the patterns
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
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Examples
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Dickinson, Burnley, showed Catlow's patent dobby, which is illustrated above, as applied to a strong calico loom.
Scientific American Supplement, No. 647, May 26, 1888 Various
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I love little dobby, but I guess hes a bit of a freaky little troll.
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"Makes you feel real dobby, that does," said Pete.
Where's the show? John Myles Aavedal 2010
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Pritchard's dobby loom is a large, foot-operated, wooden contraption.
How to weave a blanket Melissa Viney 2010
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If anyone has any wisdom pertaining to the successful sewing with and dying of bamboo dobby fabric, please leave a comment.
Polka Dot Cottage » (Mis)adventures in tub-dying » Print 2009
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THE QUEEN IS A WONDERFUL WOMAN but truth be told, I ` m not so sure about dobby Price Charles who likes to mutter greenly from his fleet of Jags.
Archive 2007-10-21 Newmania 2007
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HusseinTenaX in reply to a comment from robby dobby
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If anyone has any wisdom pertaining to the successful sewing with and dying of bamboo dobby fabric, please leave a comment.
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THE QUEEN IS A WONDERFUL WOMAN but truth be told, I ` m not so sure about dobby Price Charles who likes to mutter greenly from his fleet of Jags.
Harry, England and Saint George Newmania 2007
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Who's the midget in the chair? clickofalight if i answered you, i might cry thinking of poor dobby...
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Teaser Trailer | /Film 2009
treeseed commented on the word dobby
a fool, a silly old man, also a kind of spirit. North.The dobbies seem to be similar to Scottish Brownies. They are well described by Washington Irving in his Bracebridge Hall, ed. 1822.
_A Dictionary of Archaic and Provincial Words, Obsolete Phrases, Proverbs and Ancient Customs, by James Orchard Halliwell-Phillips, 1881
February 26, 2008
tiggytig commented on the word dobby
dob·by /ˈdɒbi/ –noun, plural -bies.
1. A house elf once belonging to Draco Malfoy, and soonafter Harry Potter. Owned a sock.
2. The first, and probably last, free elf.
b. Dobby died being awesome (Here lies Dobby, a free elf.)
c. Dobby rulz
October 22, 2008