Cobblers


[kob-ler] /ˈkɒb lər/

noun
1.
a person who mends shoes.
2.
a deep-dish fruit pie with a rich biscuit crust, usually only on top.
3.
an iced drink made of wine or liquor, fruits, sugar, etc.
4.
a fabric rejected because of defective dyeing or finishing.
5.
a mummichog.
6.
Archaic. a clumsy workman.
/ˈkɒbləz/
plural noun
1.
rubbish; nonsense: a load of old cobblers
2.
another word for testicles See testicle
interjection
3.
an exclamation of strong disagreement
/ˈkɒblə/
noun
1.
a person who makes or mends shoes
/ˈkɒblə/
noun
1.
a sweetened iced drink, usually made from fruit and wine or liqueur
2.
(mainly US) a hot dessert made of fruit covered with a rich cakelike crust
n.

late 13c., cobelere “one who mends shoes,” of uncertain origin. It and cobble (v.) “evidently go together etymologically” [OED], but the historical record presents some difficulties. “The cobbler should stick to his last” (ne sutor ultra crepidam) is from the anecdote of Greek painter Apelles.

On one occasion a cobbler noticed a fault in the painting of a shoe, and remarking upon it to a person standing by, passed on. As soon as the man was out of sight Apelles came from his hiding-place, examined the painting, found that the cobbler’s criticism was just, and at once corrected the error. … The cobbler came by again and soon discovered that the fault he had pointed out had been remedied; and, emboldened by the success of his criticism, began to express his opinion pretty freely about the painting of the leg! This was too much for the patience of the artist, who rushed from his hiding place and told the cobbler to stick to his shoes. [William Edward Winks, “Lives of Illustrious Shoemakers,” London, 1883]

[The quote is variously reported: Pliny (“Natural History” XXXV.x.36) has ne supra crepidam judicaret, while Valerius Maximus (VIII.xiii.3) gives supra plantam ascendere vetuit.]

“deep-dish fruit pie,” 1859, American English, perhaps related to 14c. cobeler “wooden bowl.”
see: stick to one’s last

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