Tennis. to hit (a ball) in a high arc to the back of the opponent's court.
to fire (a missile, as a shell) in a high trajectory so that it drops onto a target.
Cricket. to bowl (the ball) with a slow underhand motion.
to throw (something) slowly in an arc.
verb (used without object),lobbed,lob·bing.
Tennis. to lob a ball.
noun
Tennis. a ball hit in a high arc to the back of the opponent's court.
Cricket. a ball bowled with a slow underhand motion.
BritishDialect. a slow, heavy, dull-witted person.
Origin of lob
1
1325–75; in earlier sense, to behave like a lob (Middle English lobbe, lob bumpkin, clumsy person, originally pollack; Old English: spider; basic sense, something pendulous); cognate with Middle Low German, Middle Dutch lobbe dangling part, stockfish, etc.
Staring at a midterm catastrophe, the Democrats lob increasingly desperate charges.
Democrats' Midterm Wish: The Government Shutdown That Won't Happen|Ron Christie|September 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The lob may have a long history, but it's also having a moment.
Goodbye Pixie Cut, Hello Lob: The Haircut Taking Over Hollywood|Erin Cunningham|June 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Walters took the opportunity to lob some off-the-cuff softball questions.
Barbara Walters’s Final ‘The View’: A Tearful Farewell Befitting an Icon|Kevin Fallon|May 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And, I lay low on holidays since the bad guys tend to lob rockets to help us celebrate.
Dodging Rockets in Afghanistan as the Taliban’s Fighting Season Begins|Nick Willard|May 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That would make the $40 million in salaries owed each year to the Lob City Duo enough to put the Clippers deep into the red.
How to Rescue the Clippers From Donald Sterling’s Racist Clutches|Jesse Lawrence|April 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Passed two Pagodas, each of nine stories, and made a romantic cut-off, via Lob Creek.
Kathay: A Cruise in the China Seas|W. Hastings Macaulay
A dozen tales of such were rife, and folks were more amused than amazed by Lob Lie-by-the-fire's next prank.
Tales from Many Sources|Various
Remember that, with a cold in your head, you will have to say to her: 'I lob you, be darling.
Her Royal Highness Woman|Max O'Rell
This stroke resembles a "lob," and should be so placed as to obviate the chance of punishment.
The Sportswoman's Library, v. 2|Various
Kolwah is a well-cultivated district lying to the south of the river, which in its upper course is known as the Lob.
The Gates of India|Thomas Holdich
British Dictionary definitions for lob (1 of 2)
lob1
/ (lɒb) sport /
noun
a ball struck in a high arc
cricketa ball bowled in a slow high arc
verblobs, lobbingorlobbed
to hit or kick (a ball) in a high arc
informalto throw, esp in a high arc
Word Origin for lob
C14: probably of Low German origin, originally in the sense: something dangling; compare Middle Low German lobbe hanging lower lip, Old English loppe spider
British Dictionary definitions for lob (2 of 2)
lob2
/ (lɒb) /
noun
short for lobworm
Word Origin for lob
C17 (in the sense: pendulous object): related to lob1