Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
COB, n.3 “The husk of pease; as pease-cob” (Dmf. 1825 Jam.2; Dmf., Gall. 1898 E.D.D.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Given as obsol. by Cai.7 (1936).
[Of uncertain origin. Eng. cob, Norw. and Sw. kopp, are generally supposed to have meant orig. a shell (which fits the present case), a bowl, the meaning of a head having arisen only in the 12th cent. (cf. the Ger. development from schale to gehirnschale). There is also a possibility that it may be a variant of Cod, n.2, id. (for interchange of b and d cf. cruben and cruden s.v. Cruban, n.1).]
