Also (in sense 3) babbing. [Several words, f. BOB v. in various senses.]
1. Beating, striking; also fig. the giving of a sharp ‘rap’ in speech. (See BOB sb.3 2.) Hence bobbing-block.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 250 b. With spyttynges, bobbynges, and other turmentes many and dyuerse.
1558. Phaër, Æneid, V. N iij. Loude their brests wt bobbings rings.
1575. Gascoigne, Wks. (1587), 296. A bobbing blocke, a beating stocke, an owle.
1692. Poems in Burlesque, 4. To leave off Stumming for dry Bobbing.
2. Movement up and down; dancing, curtsying, etc. (See BOB v.3).
a. 1776. in Herd, Coll. Sc. Songs, II. 114 (Jam.). Wi’ bobbing, Willie’s shanks are sair.
1832. Ht. Martineau, Each & All, v. 62. There was plenty of bobbing from the girls.
1865. Englishman’s Mag., Oct., 310. Bees … making a ceaseless bobbing in the flowers.
3. Fishing for eels with a bob. (In East Anglia babbing, which also signifies a method of catching crabs; see quot. 1867.)
1653. W. Lauson, Secr. Angling, in Arb., Garner, I. 195. There is a third usual way to catch Eels, called ‘Bobbing.’
1673. Marvell, Reh. Transp., II. 105. This grave and ponderous creature may like Eeles be taken and pull’d up only with bobbing.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Babbing, an east-country method of catching crabs, by enticing them to the surface of the water with baited lines and then taking them with a landing net.
