Bobbing

the effect on a radarscope of the fluctuation of a radar echo because of alternating interference and reinforcement of the reflected waves.
a short, jerky motion:
a bob of the head.
to move quickly down and up:
to bob the head.
to indicate with such a motion:
to bob a greeting.
to make a jerky motion with the head or body.
to move about with jerky, usually rising and falling motions:
The ball bobbed upon the waves.
bob up, to emerge or appear, especially unexpectedly:
A familiar face bobbed up in the crowd.
a style of short haircut for women and children.
a docked horse’s tail.
a dangling or terminal object, as the weight on a pendulum or a plumb line.
a short, simple line in a verse or song, especially a short refrain or coda.
Angling.

a knot of worms, rags, etc., on a string.
a float for a fishing line.

a bobsled or bob skate.
Scot. a bunch, cluster, or wad, especially a small bouquet of flowers.
Obsolete, walking beam.
to cut short; dock:
They bobbed their hair to be in style.
to try to snatch floating or dangling objects with the teeth:
to bob for apples.
Angling. to fish with a bob.
a tap; light blow.
a polishing wheel of leather, felt, or the like.
to tap; strike lightly.
Contemporary Examples

Obama’s Debt-Reduction Dare John Avlon September 18, 2011
National Geographic Revives Debate Over Imperiled Bluefin Tuna in New Show Daniel Stone March 9, 2012
Hundreds of Migrants are Reported Drowned by Traffickers Near Malta Barbie Latza Nadeau September 14, 2014
The Gonzo Life of Mayor McCrack John Avlon November 8, 2013

Historical Examples

Six Girls and Bob Marion Ames Taggart
Mary-‘Gusta Joseph C. Lincoln
Tales from Blackwood Various
The Wall Street Girl Frederick Orin Bartlett
Bentley’s Miscellany, Volume II Various
The O’Ruddy Stephen Crane

verb bobs, bobbing, bobbed
to move or cause to move up and down repeatedly, as while floating in water
to move or cause to move with a short abrupt movement, as of the head
to make (a bow or curtsy): the little girl bobbed before the visitor
(intransitive) usually foll by up. to appear or emerge suddenly
(intransitive; foll by under, below, etc) to disappear suddenly, as beneath a surface
(intransitive) usually foll by for. to attempt to get hold (of a floating or hanging object, esp an apple) in the teeth as a game
noun
a short abrupt movement, as of the head
a quick curtsy or bow
(bell-ringing) a particular set of changes
(angling)

short for bobfloat
the topmost fly on a cast of three, often fished bobbing at the surface
this position on a wet-fly cast

noun
a hairstyle for women and children in which the hair is cut short evenly all round the head
a dangling or hanging object, such as the weight on a pendulum or on a plumb line
a polishing disc on a rotating spindle. It is usually made of felt, leather, etc, impregnated with an abrasive material
short for bob skate, bobsleigh
a runner or pair of runners on a bobsled
(angling) a small knot of worms, maggots, etc, used as bait
a very short line of verse at the end of a stanza or preceding a rhyming quatrain (the wheel) at the end of a stanza
a refrain or burden with such a short line or lines
a docked tail, esp of a horse
(Brit, dialect) a hanging cluster, as of flowers or ribbons
verb bobs, bobbing, bobbed
(transitive) to cut (the hair) in a bob
(transitive) to cut short (something, esp the tail of an animal); dock or crop
(intransitive) to ride on a bobsled
verb bobs, bobbing, bobbed
to tap or cause to tap or knock lightly (against)
noun
a light knock; tap
noun (pl) bob
(Brit) (formerly) an informal word for a shilling (sense 1)
noun
(slang) Bob’s your uncle, everything is or will turn out all right
v.
n.
best of breed
Bolivia-boliviano
Bureau of the Budget