lob

¹

[lob]

verb (used with object)

lobbed, lobbing 

1. Tennis.,  to hit (a ball) in a high arc to the back of the opponent's court.

2. to fire (a missile, as a shell) in a high trajectory so that it drops onto a target.

3. Cricket.,  to bowl (the ball) with a slow underhand motion.

4. to throw (something) slowly in an arc.

verb (used without object)

lobbed, lobbing 

1. Tennis.,  to lob a ball.

noun

1. Tennis.,  a ball hit in a high arc to the back of the opponent's court.

2. Cricket.,  a ball bowled with a slow underhand motion.

3. British Dialect.,  a slow, heavy, dull-witted person.

lob

²

[lob]

noun

1. lobworm.

lob

¹

/ lɒb /

noun

1. a ball struck in a high arc

2. cricket a ball bowled in a slow high arc

verb

1. to hit or kick (a ball) in a high arc

2. informal,  to throw, esp in a high arc

lob

²

/ lɒb /

noun

1. short for lobworm

Other Word Forms

• lobber noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of lob¹

1325–75; in earlier sense, to behave like a lob ( Middle English lobbe, lob bumpkin, clumsy person, originally pollack; Old English: spider; basic sense, something pendulous); cognate with Middle Low German, Middle Dutch lobbe dangling part, stockfish, etc.

Word History and Origins

Origin of lob¹

C14: probably of Low German origin, originally in the sense: something dangling; compare Middle Low German lobbe hanging lower lip, Old English loppe spider

Origin of lob²

C17 (in the sense: pendulous object): related to _lob ¹

Example Sentences

But he would have done so against a position player lobbing pitches.

From Los Angeles Times

Since the demonstrations began, Indonesian police have used tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets against protesters, some of whom have lobbed back Molotov cocktails and rocks.

From Los Angeles Times

Prosecutors say that agents deployed the tear gas as a crowd control measure during the July 10 protest and that Caravello picked up a canister and lobbed it back at officers.

From Los Angeles Times

But most of the criticisms lobbed at Meghan have less to do with originality than authenticity.

From Salon

“We’re trying to figure out some stuff for lobs and all that,” Dent said, “but we’re getting it down a lot.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• flip 
• hurl 
• loft