Mining. Also lobb. pl. Steps in a mine. Also applied to an irregular vein of ore resembling a flight of steps.
1681. Houghton, Compl. Miner (E. D. S.), Lobs, steps that ascend or descend within the mines, as stairs up to and down from a chamber.
1747. Hooson, Miner’s Dict., M j b. When we drive Dipping downwards, we go by Stairs or Lobbs so as the diping requires.
1769. Nat. Hist., in Ann. Reg., 99/1. The descent is about 160 yards, through different lodgments, by ladders, lobs, and cross-pieces of timber let into the rock.
1851. Tapping, Manlove’s Lead Mines, Gloss. 28. Also when the ore in a vein does not go down perpendicularly, but only a few yards at once, then level for a yard or two, and then sets down again, such veins are called lobbs.
