cobbyadj.
/ˈkɒbi/ 1. (See quots.) dialect.
ΚΠ
1691 J. Ray N. Country Words Cobby, stout, hearty, brisk.
1703 R. Thoresby Let. 27 Apr. in J. Ray Corr. (1848) 420 Cobby, sawcy.
1708 J. Kersey Dict. Anglo-Britannicum Cobby, (O[ld Word]) stout, or brisk. [Hence in Bailey etc.]
1781 J. Hutton Tour to Caves (ed. 2) Gloss. 88/1 Cobby, in good spirits.
1788 W. Marshall Provincialisms E. Yorks. in Rural Econ. Yorks. II. 322 Cobby, merry; cheerful.
1869 J. C. Atkinson Peacock's Gloss. Dial. Hundred of Lonsdale Cobby, brisk, lively, in high spirits.
1873 J. Harland Gloss. Words Swaledale Cobby, pert, lively, cheerful, hilarious. ‘Cobby as a lop.’
2. Headstrong, arrogant. dialect.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > arrogance > [adjective]
wlonkOE
moodyOE
rankOE
surquidous1377
insolentc1386
wantona1393
arrogantc1405
angardc1425
surquidrousc1430
stately1448
imperiala1456
superbious1509
succudrous1513
surquidant1528
ruffling1543
controlling1564
lustya1568
cocking1568
superbous1581
bog1592
swaggering1596
superarrogant1598
arrogating1601
pyrgopolinizing1605
high-handed1606
outbearing1607
high-horsed1613
dictatory1639
bardish1641
self-assuming1647
superbient1647
huffy1680
dictatorial1692
huffish1755
cobby1785
high-riding1831
braggadocious1853
snouty1858
you-be-damned1887
the mind > will > decision > obstinacy or stubbornness > [adjective] > wilful
onwileOE
wilfulc1200
willesfulc1225
headstronga1398
wilsomea1400
headya1425
overthrowing?a1425
self-willya1425
self-willedc1450
sensual1524
wayward1528
headish1530
affectionate1534
self-will1562
strongheaded1579
hard-mouthed1610
brag-brained1648
self-wilful1648
overwilled1650
will-strong1654
cobby1785
willyart1791
brain-strong1863
1785 W. Hutton Bran New Wark Epil. We were a happy people indeed till lately, till grown cobby; our family fell to wrangling.
1825 in J. T. Brockett Gloss. North Country Words
1869 J. C. Atkinson Peacock's Gloss. Dial. Hundred of Lonsdale Cobby, tyrannical, set up, proud.
1877 Good Words 18 5/1 ‘George..is as cobby as sud be.’
3.
a. Of the nature of, or like a cob (horse).
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > horse defined by breed > [adjective] > of or like particular breeds
Arabian1588
Arab1718
garronly1740
Shetland1770
Clydesdale1786
Belgian1821
Conestoga1828
Gypsy1856
Anglo-Arab1860
Anglo-Arabian1860
cobby1871
Akhal-Teke1882
criollo1884
saddlebred1891
Lipizzan1948
1871 Daily News 19 Jan. The paragon of cobby screws.
1881 Standard 12 May 3/1 A good proportion of the mounts being a little ‘cobby’.
b. Shortish and thickset, ‘stocky’.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > bodily height > shortness > [adjective] > and broad
short shoulderedc1405
bunting1584
squaddy1593
chubby1611
truncheon1611
squat1630
squabbish1666
truss1674
squab1675
squad1675
stocky1676
punch1679
trunch1683
squat1688
stub1711
fodgel1724
thick-set1724
puddy1747
chunky1749
dumpy1750
squabby1754
knurly1758
clunch1776
trunchy1778
fubsy1780
punchy1780
humpty-dumpty1785
trunched1787
pudgy1788
fubby1790
runty1807
squattish1809
roly-poly1818
stumpy1822
hoddy-doddy1824
spuddya1825
hodmandod1825
stubby1831
podgy1832
fubsical1834
dumpty1847
fatling1847
stuggy1847
nuggety1856
cloddy1876
blocky1879
chumpy188.
cobby1883
squidgy1891
stockish1913
pyknic1925
humpisha1935
1883 G. Stables Our Friend the Dog vii. 59 Cobby—Nicely ribbed up, compact in form like a cob-horse.
1891 New Rev. June 545 The cobby man of 5 ft. 5 in.
1909 Daily Chron. 26 June 8/5 Pony (Welsh), cobby-built.
1958 D. A. Bannerman Birds Brit. Isles VII. 152 The general ‘cobby’ appearance, unusually active movements, and above all the extreme buoyancy [of the harlequin duck].
4. (See quot. 1863) dialect. [ < cob n.1 10]
ΚΠ
1863 J. C. Morton Cycl. Agric. (new ed.) II. (Gloss.) 722/1 Cobby (Linc.), applied to wheat, means short and full.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adj.1691