lobs!

Preserved but no longer current.

Meaning · English

Schoolboys’ signal on the master’s approach. Also, an assistant watcher, an under gamekeeper.

Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)

Where it’s used: Origin British & Irish English
Sources & notes

Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.

Common questions

What does “lobs!” mean?

Schoolboys’ signal on the master’s approach. Also, an assistant watcher, an under gamekeeper.

Is “lobs!” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.