Emily Dickinson Lexicon

COB, n. [W. cob or cop, a top or tuft, a thump; Gr. κυβη; G. kopf, the head; D. kop; Sax. cop.]

1. The top or head; a covetous wretch; a foreign coin. Bailey. [In these senses not used in America.]
2. In America, the receptacle of the maiz, or American corn; a shoot in form of a pin or spike, on which grows the corn in rows. This receptacle, with the corn, is called the ear.
3. A sea-fowl, the sea-cob. [It. gabbiano, a cob, sea-mew, or gull.]
4. A ball or pellet for feeding fowls. – Bailey.
5. In some parts of England, a spider. Old Dutch, kop, or koppe, a spider, retained in koppespin, spinnekop, a spider.
6. A horse not castrated; a strong pony.
7. Clay mixed with straw.