dobby

noun

dob·​by ˈdä-bē How to pronounce dobby (audio)
plural dobbies
1
: a loom attachment for weaving small figures
2
: a fabric or figured weave made with a dobby

Examples of dobby in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Lighthearted games of dobby or tag often feature in those sessions, too. — Paul Taylor, New York Times, 11 May 2026 Beyond preventing frayed edges, the dobby border contributes to the overall longevity of your towels. — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 8 May 2026 It's made from 100% cotton dobby for a lightweight option as summer temperatures rise. — Claire Peltier, ABC News, 17 June 2026 Or there’s that Neverland nightstand mentioned earlier with the detachable cotton dobby skirt. — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 11 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dobby

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from Dobby, nickname for Robert

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dobby was in 1878

Rhymes for dobby

See All Rhymes for dobby

Browse Nearby Words

dobbin
dobby
Dobe
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dobby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dobby. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All