cobbler en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- (General-American) audio
- /ˈkɑbəlɚ/ (General-American)
- /ˈkɒblə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- (General-American) audio
- /ˈkɑblɚ/ (General-American)
- /ˈkɒbələ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English cobeler, cobelere (“mender of shoes, cobbler”) [and other forms]; further origin unknown. The word appears to be derived from an early form of cobble (“to mend roughly, patch; (specifically) to mend shoes, especially roughly”) + -er (suffix forming agent nouns), but is attested much earlier than the verb which suggests that the verb may be a back-formation from cobbler. Sense 2 (“sheep left to the end to be sheared”) is a pun on cobbler’s last (“tool for shaping or preserving the shape of shoes”); while sense 3 (“clumsy workman”) is derived from cobble + -er: see above.
Meanings
-
A person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes.
This honest Cobler has done what he might: / That Statesmen in their Shoes might walk upright. / But rotten Shoes of Spannish running-leather: / No Coblers skill, can stitch them strong together.
1647, Jerome Bellamie, “Postscript”, in Theodore de la Guard [pseudonym; Nathaniel Ward], The Simple Cobler of Aggawam in America. […], London: […] J[ohn] D[ever] & R[obert] I[bbitson] for Stephen Bowtell, […], →OCLC; The Simple Cobler of Aggawam in America (Force’s Collection of Historical Tracts; vol. III, no. 8), 5th edition, Boston, Mass.: […] Daniel Henchman, […]; [Washington, D.C.: W. Q. Force], 1713 (1844 printing), →OCLC, page 58:All honeſt jogg trotmen, who go on ſmoothly and dully, and write hiſtory and politics, and are praiſed; and who, had they been bred coblers, would all their lives have only mended ſhoes, but never made them.
1766, [Oliver Goldsmith], “The History of a Philosophic Vagabond, Pursuing Novelty, but Losing Content”, in The Vicar of Wakefield: […], volume I, Salisbury, Wiltshire: […] B. Collins, for F[rancis] Newbery, […], →OCLC, page 5:But what of that vast number of the human kind who were always in the background? What of the hewers of wood and drawers of water, the swineherds, the shepherds, the carpenters, the hedgers and cobblers?
1922, Eleanour Sinclair Rohde, The Old English Herbals, London: Longmans, Green and Co., page 13:[W]hat would they think of a French cobler cutting ſhoes for ſeveral of his fellow-ſubjects out of an old apple-tree?
1710 February 20 (Gregorian calendar), Joseph Addison, “The Free-holder: No. 15. Thursday, February 10. [1710.]”, in The Works of the Right Honourable Joseph Addison, Esq; […], volume IV, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], published 1721, →OCLC, page 414:
- (Australia, New-Zealand, slang) A sheep left to the end to be sheared (for example, because its wool is filthy, or because it is difficult to catch).
-
(obsolete) A person who cobbles (“to assemble or mend in an improvised or rough way”); a clumsy workman.
Truely Sir, in reſpect of a fine Workman, / I am but as you would ſay, a Cobler.
1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], page 109, column 1:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| cobler | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic | |
| cobblers | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Coordinates
Deriveds
the cobbler always wears the worst shoes · cobbler's punch · cobbler, keep to your last · let the cobbler stick to his last · Cobbler · cobbler's · cobblery · the cobbler's children go barefoot · cobblership · cobbler's pegs · the cobbler's children are the worst shod
Descendants
Relateds
gentle craft · cobbling · cobblestone · cobble-stone
Synonyms
chuckler · lad of wax · waxy · botcher · shoemender · souter · waxie
Translations (168)
ru башма́чник (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · de Schusterin (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · gl zapateiro (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · vo lujukel (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · es zapatero remendón (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · fro corvisier (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · grc σκῡτοτόμος (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · sv skomakerska (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · de Patzerin (clumsy workman) · it zabattiero (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · hu suszter (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · grc νευρορρᾰ́φος (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · pl łatacz (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · eo ŝuflikistino (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · lld calighé (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · fr bouif (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · it ciabattino (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · el υποδηματοποιός (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · es remendona (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · mi hūmeke (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · de Schuhflicker (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · it zabattiera (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · sv skomakare (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · eu zapatari (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · es zapatera remendona (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · de Patzer (clumsy workman) · fi tunari (clumsy workman) · sh ва̑рга (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · nl schoenmaker (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · la sūtrīx (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · gl zapateira (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · ro ciubotar (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · cs švec (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · de Schuster (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · fa کفاش (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · ru сапо́жник (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · de Flickschusterin (clumsy workman) · fr savetière (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · fr savetier (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · sh о̀бућа̄р (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · uk чоботар (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · cy crydd (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · mk чевлар (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · el τσαγκάρης (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · de Flickschuster (clumsy workman) · fr cordonnière (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · eo ŝuflikisto (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · grc σκυτεύς (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · lb Schoustesch (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · ca sabatera (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · ka მეჩექმე (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · gd greusaiche (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · egy S33-w (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · de Stümperin (clumsy workman) · nl schoenlapster (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · fo skósmiður (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · lv kurpnieks (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · fr cordonnier (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · pl niezdara (clumsy workman) · bg обуща́р (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · grc πᾰλαιορᾰ́φος (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · eo botisto (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · fo skómakari (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · es remendón (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · as মুচী (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · da skoflikker (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · grc ὑποδηματοποιός (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · ff jappaajo (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · ga gréasaí (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · nl schoenmaakster (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · oc sabatièr (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · mr चांभार (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · ja 靴屋 (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · fi suutari (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · syc ܐܫܟܦܐ (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · lad kunduryero (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · frm bobelineur (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · es zapatero (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · gmq-osw sutare (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · nb skomaker (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · mr मोची (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · lv apavnieks (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · gu મોચી (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · hu varga (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · az çəkməçi (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · cmn 鞋匠 (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · de Flickschusterin (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · eo ŝuistino (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · ca sabater (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · ka ხარაზი (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · et kingsepp (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · oc sabatèr (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · oc cauçatièr (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · de Pfuscherin (clumsy workman) · hu cipész (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · ang sċōhwyrhta (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · sh òbućār (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · hi मोची (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · es zapatera (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · eo ŝuisto (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · nrf chav'tchi (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · ga caibléir (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · sh postòlār (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · ru сапо́жница (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · pl szewc (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · de Pfuscher (clumsy workman) · de Stümper (clumsy workman) · ka მეწაღე (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · eo botistino (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · la calciātrīx (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · lad kunduradji (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · scn zavatteri (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · ro pantofar (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · la calceātor (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · cim schuastar (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · tr ayakkabıcı (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · pt sapateiro (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · sv skoflickare (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · la calciātor (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · bn মুচী (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · la calceātrīx (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · sh посто̀ла̄р (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · ja 靴直し (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · enm soutere (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · hi चमार (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · oc sabatier (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · la sūtriballus (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · ar إِسْكَاف (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · cs příštipkář (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · de Schuhflickerin (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · da skomager (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · nl schoenlapper (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · cmn 皮匠 (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · mr चर्मकार (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · oc calçatièr (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · sh vȃrga (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · vo hilujukel (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · is skómakari (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · lv apavniece (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · hy կոշկակար (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · lad sapatero (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · it calzolaio (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · da klamphugger (clumsy workman) · pdt Schusta (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · is skósmiður (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · mk кондураџија (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · nrf cordonnyi (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · pl szewczyni (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · ug ياماقچى (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · it ciabattina (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · pt sapateira (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · el παπουτσής (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · pl ostatnia owca do strzyżenia (sheep left to the end to be sheared) · fi rajasuutari (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · lv kurpniece (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · uk швець (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · de Schuhmacher (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · ro cizmar (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · lb Schouster (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · sub sapateiro (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · de Flickschuster (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · la sūtor (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · de Schuhmacherin (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · nn skomakar (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · lb Schousterin (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · ota اسكیجی (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · it calzolaia (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes) · vo jilujukel (person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes)