Cob facts for kids

Cob or COB is a word with many different meanings! It can refer to animals, parts of plants, building materials, and even be an acronym for different groups or ideas. Let's explore what "cob" can mean!

Animals

Some animals are called "cob":

• A Cob horse is a type of horse that is usually small and strong. They are often used for riding and driving.
• An adult male swan is called a cob. Female swans are called "pens," and baby swans are called "cygnets."
• Sometimes, a gull (a type of seabird) is called a cob.
• An old English word for a spider is "cob." You might still hear it used for an orb-weaver spider, which is a spider that builds round, spiral webs.

Parts of Plants

"Cob" can also describe parts of plants:

• A corncob is the tough, inner part of an ear of maize (which is also called corn). The kernels of corn grow on the cob.
• A cob nut is another name for a hazelnut, which is a tasty nut that grows on a hazel tree.

Materials and Objects

You might find "cob" used for materials or objects:

• Cob (material) is a natural building material. It's made by mixing clay, sand, straw, and water. People use cob to build strong, eco-friendly walls for houses.
• A cob (bread) is a type of crusty bread roll. It's shaped a bit like a squashed ball and is very popular in the middle of England.
• Cob coins were old Spanish gold and silver coins. They were often shaped unevenly and looked a bit rough because they were made quickly.

Places

"Cob" can also be part of a place name:

• The Cob is a famous seawall in Porthmadog, Wales. It helps protect the land from the sea.
• There's also a seawall called The Cob in Malltraeth, Anglesey, Wales.
• Kingsley Castle in Cheshire, England, is sometimes called Castle Cob. It's a very old medieval mound where a castle once stood.

Acronyms

COB can also be an acronym, which means it stands for several words:

• COB can stand for the Brazilian Olympic Committee (Comitê Olímpico Brasileiro in Portuguese). This group helps organize Brazil's participation in the Olympic Games.
• COB is sometimes used for the center of balance. This is the point where an object's weight is evenly distributed, making it stable.
• COB is the short name for Children of Bodom, a well-known metal band from Finland.
• COB can mean Chip on board. This is a way of putting small electronic parts directly onto a circuit board.
• COB stands for the College of The Bahamas, which is a public university in the Bahamas.
• COB can also refer to Corn, Oats and Barley. This is a mix of grains that farmers feed to horses and other livestock to help them grow strong and healthy.
• COB is sometimes used in boating to mean Crew overboard. This is an emergency situation where someone has fallen off a boat into the water.

Related Pages

• Cobb (disambiguation)
• Kob, a type of antelope

See also

In Spanish: COB para niños