SERIOUSLY!
2006-10-21 12:41:14 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
"Bob" is the short form of "Robert". It arose later than the medieval rhyming nicknames of Robert, Dob, Hob and Nob.
The Normans introduced the name "Robert" to Britain. It is derived from the Germanic elements *hrod* "fame" and *beraht* "bright", meaning "bright fame".
2006-10-21 12:56:37 · answer #1 · answered by Companion Wulf 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The nicknames "Bob" as well as the now defunct "Hob" (both for "Robert") are examples of a 13th-14th centurytrend of creating rhyming nicknames (arbitrarily changing the first letter). Other examples include Hick and Dick (appearing in writing around 1220), Polly from Molly, Bill from Will (from William); and Hodge from Roger.
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mdick.html
For other forms of "letter swapping" to create nicknames, and a variety of other methods by which English nicknames developed see:
http://www.geocities.com/edgarbook/names/other/nicknames.html
Also note how many English nicknames were created by making substitions for r's -- not only at the beginning of words [Richard, Robert], but in the middle of them -- Mary > Molly, Sarah > Sally/Sadie, Dorothy > Dolly; Harold/Harry (> Hal). It seems that there was a great dislike amongst the native English for the harsh Norman French "r". This clash of Norman French with English then, may have been a major impetus for the creation of all these nicknames.
2006-10-22 01:25:20 · answer #2 · answered by bruhaha 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Robert
2006-10-21 12:48:17 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The nickname for Robert.
2006-10-21 19:18:42 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's a commonly used nickname for Robert
2006-10-21 12:47:13 · answer #5 · answered by dede 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Its an acrynym for "Battery Operated Boyfriend"
2006-10-21 12:51:33 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋