fob

/fɑb/

/fɒb/

Other forms: fobbed; fobs; fobbing

A fob is a chain that holds an old-fashioned pocket watch. If your grandfather carries his watch around in a little pocket in his vest, it's probably attached with a fob.

It's uncommon to see a watch fob these days, but they were once as ordinary as the watches they held. The little pockets sewn in men's clothing were also fobs, and today, a key chain is sometimes called a fob. When fob is a verb, it means to fool people or play a trick on them, especially by giving them something less valuable than they expect. This meaning is from the obsolete fobbe, "cheater."

Definitions of fob

1. noun

   short chain or ribbon attaching a pocket watch to a man's vest
   synonyms: watch chain, watch guard

   type of:

   chain

   a series of (usually metal) rings or links fitted into one another to make a flexible ligament
2. noun

   an adornment that hangs from a watch chain
   type of:

   adornment

   a decoration of color or interest that is added to relieve plainness
3. noun

   a vest pocket to hold a pocket watch
   synonyms: watch pocket

   type of:

   vest pocket

   a small pocket in a man's vest
4. verb

   deceive somebody
   synonyms: flim-flam, fox, play a joke on, play a trick on, play tricks, pull a fast one on, trick

   types:

   snooker

   fool or dupe

   type of:

   cozen, deceive, delude, lead on

   be false to; be dishonest with