scob

noun

1. A flaw in which the weft misses a few warp threads.

   “A scob, again, is a blemish in the cloth arising from the interruption of the threads in shedding, preventing the proper interlacing of the warp and the weft.”

   “The weft stopper will stop the loom when the weft is exhausted in the shuttle; and when a warp thread breaks in the shed in a position to make a scob or float, the scob preventor will also stop the loom, and an apparatus may also be applied to change the shuttle without stopping the loom;”

   “Ere she could obey his orders, however, the seed-box slipped to the floor, and from it rolled over thirty sixpences, the missing scobs in the weft, which Wattie had so carefully preserved for the winter's campaign.”

   “I think the freedom from such casualties is due to the fact that, in Scotland, no woman works more than two looms, and thus can very quickly detect the formation of a 'scob' or any other defect which would cause a shuttle to fly.”

2. A wooden box with two lids, used as a storage box and movable desk.

   “Possessed of the keys, the boys broke into Mr. Goddard's apartments, and blocked up the passage of communication between them and the Warden's lodging with scobs.”

   “In School we had our scobs, two rows of them on the north side, one on the south.”

   “Afternoon school [at Winchester] lasted from two till six; in the vast schoolroom, lighted at that time only by candles in the sconces; the boys sitting at their “scobs” or movable desks, while the commoners were accommodated also at friendly scobs, or sat at two long "commoner tables."”

   “The need for a writing surface and space to store the larger number of books now being used by the pupils no doubt brought the scob into being.”

verb

1. To create a scob.

   “But still it may be tripped by the shed in its course; or the work may be scobbed by the shuttle running under, or over, the shed”

   “To go beyond that is at the expense of the yarn, as it has then to bear an unnecessary strain, and it is apt to scob the warp and skift the weft while the shuttle is in motion .”

   “This will take out the reed marks and, of course, by having the lower beams there is less liability to scobbing and skifting, which are great faults.”

   “This morning I have a letter from Laurence Hogan telling me that you have been scobbing in the mill since the murders and of course I am shocked to hear it.”

2. To pack a wagon with large pieces on top so as to hide gaps resulting from it not being completely filled.

   “Yes, that was one of the principal grievances; that a man should stand on the hill to see justice done between man and man; there may be what we call scobbing.”

   “James and the miners referred to it as “scobbing up the coal”, which merely meant that they were getting the last useable coal available from the mine.”

3. To scrape or pound.

   “This lass, Nelly Long, was dressish and dapper, And tho' our Dick was a good-looking lad, She scobbed him, and scoffed him, for she was a snapper, And said as right how, that she war'nt to be had.”

   ““Okay,” said the dark, barrel-chested kid, “Whynt we just have the same captains as yesterday?” “Yeah, but not the same teams.” “Too lopsided.” “That was a slaughter." “We got scobbed."”

   “I met her on the mountain And there I tuck her life; I met her on the mountain And scobbed her with my knife.”

   ““I scobbed him right in the nose and down he went ass-over-tin-cup!” he boasted.”

   “I'm like the steel scaffoldin ovver the road when a scobbed stone's rung against a tube of it, cus I'm ringin with the shock, me hands clamped ter the edge of me mattress.”