Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1825-1866
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COBLE, Cowble, v. and n.1 [kɔbl Sc., but ne. and m.Sc. + kobl and Rxb. + kʌubl]
I. v.
1. intr.
(1) To rock (Bnff.2, Abd.2, Arg.1 1936); “to float undulatingly, as a buoyant object on wavelets” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., cowble, obs.). Vbl.n. coblan.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 29:
Fin a wiz gain' across the widden briggie, it keepit sic a coblan it a thocht it wid 'a' been doon ilky meenit.Rxb. 1825 Jam.2:
A stepping stone is said to coble, when it moves under one who steps on it.
Hence cobly, adj., “liable to rock, shake, or undulate” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).
†(2) Of ice: to undulate when walked on (Rxb. 1825 Jam.2, coble, cowble). Given in Watson Rxb. W.-B. (1923) as obs.
†(3) “To play at see-saw” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).
(4) In steel-rolling mills, of a plate: to be rejected because it rocks, not having been properly flattened (Lnk. 1975).
2. tr. To cause to rock (Bnff.2, Abd.19 1936).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 29:
Dinna coble the pleht, or ye'll spill the milk.
†II. n.
1. “A rocking motion” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 29).
2. “A see-saw or titter-totter” (Rxb. 1825 Jam.2; 1923 Watson W.-B., obs.).
3. The game of see-saw (Ib.).
4. A rejected plate from a steel-rolling mill (Lnk. 1975). See I. 1. (4) above.
[Apparently connected with cobble, a rounded stone, one which would not remain steady if trodden on, or with Coble, n.2, a small boat being easily rocked. Cf. Cockle, v.2]
