# dobby

> English word · Noun · frequency rank #45,337

## Definitions
1. A device in some looms that allows the weaving of small geometric patterns.
2. The patterns so woven, or the fabric containing the patterns.
3. An evil or mischievous fairy or ghost sometimes said to haunt a building or household.
4. A dotard.
5. The children's game of tag.

## Etymology
From Dobby.

## Easily confused with
- **dory** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dobby-vs-dory)
- **doubt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dobby-vs-doubt)
- **dolly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dobby-vs-dolly)
- **doggy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dobby-vs-doggy)
- **dodgy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dobby-vs-dodgy)
- **Donny** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dobby-vs-donny)
- **dowry** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dobby-vs-dowry)
- **Dolby** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dobby-vs-dolby)
- **dorky** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dobby-vs-dorky)
- **dopey** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dobby-vs-dopey)
- **downy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dobby-vs-downy)
- **doubly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dobby-vs-doubly)
- **dob** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dob-vs-dobby)
- **derby** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/derby-vs-dobby)
- **darby** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/darby-vs-dobby)
- **Dobbs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dobbs-vs-dobby)
- **Digby** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/digby-vs-dobby)
- **Debby** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debby-vs-dobby)

## Common misspellings (6)
`dboby`, `ddobby`, `dobbyy`, `doby`, `dobyb`, `odbby`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/dobby