1785. Grose, Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.
3. (common).—A watch chain or ribbon, with buckle and seals, worn hanging from the fob.
Verb. (old).—1. To rob; to cheat; to pocket; also to fob off.
1700. Congreve, Way of the World, i., 9. There were items of such a treaty in embrio; and if it shou’d come to life poor Mirabell wou’d be in some sort unfortunately fobb’d, i’faith.
1703. Mrs. Centlivre, Stolen Heiress, III., iv., wks. (1872), i., 358. I shall be fobbed of my mistress by and by. Why, Frank, why, thou wilt not fob me, wilt thou?
1731. Fielding, Grub Street Opera, i., 5. While ev’ry one else he is fobbing, He still may be honest to me.
1789. Wolcot [P. Pinder], Rowland for an Oliver, in wks. (Dublin, 1795), Vol. II., p. 159. To use a cant phrase, we’ve been finely fobb’d, Indeed, have very dext’rously been robb’d.
1840. Howitt, Visits to Remarkable Places, p. 170. Very pretty sums he has fobbed now and then.
1842. Punch, III., p. 239, col. 2. The world turns its back on you, and neither by cards nor dice can you fob your brother mortal out of a single guinea.
2. (old).—To deceive; trifle with; disappoint; to put off dishonestly or unfairly.