Cob vs. Cop — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on March 30, 2024
Cob refers to the central, woody part of an ear of corn, while cop pertains to a police officer or a capture.
Difference Between Cob and Cop
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Cob is primarily known as the core of an ear of corn, around which the kernels grow. It's a term used in agriculture and cooking to describe the part of the maize that remains after the kernels have been removed. On the other hand, cop is a colloquial term for a police officer, originating from the concept of capturing or "copping" criminals, and has evolved to refer broadly to individuals involved in law enforcement.
While a cob has a specific role in the plant world, providing the structure on which corn kernels develop and are supported, a cop plays a crucial role in society, responsible for maintaining law and order, enforcing laws, and ensuring public safety. The functions of a cob and a cop are vastly different, highlighting the diverse ways in which English terminology can evolve from physical objects to societal roles.
The term cob can also extend beyond corn to refer to other objects with a central, cylindrical form, such as cobnuts or cob loaves. This versatility in its usage underlines the term's descriptive nature in relation to form and structure. Conversely, cop can also signify the act of capturing or seizing something, not just in a legal sense but also colloquially, as in "to cop a feel" or "cop a plea," indicating a broader range of applications beyond its law enforcement origins.
In terms of their etymology, "cob" has origins in Old English, related to the shape and structure of objects, whereas "cop" derives from the Latin "capere," meaning to seize or take. This linguistic background reflects the physical and functional attributes associated with each term, from the tangible form of a cob to the active role of capturing or policing associated with a cop.
Despite their distinct meanings and contexts, both terms are integral to their respective domains, with cobs being crucial in agricultural processes and culinary applications, and cops playing a vital role in the enforcement of law and order. Their significance underscores the diversity of language and the specificity required to convey different concepts and roles effectively.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Central part of an ear of corn
A police officer or the act of capturing
Usage
Agriculture and cooking
Law enforcement and colloquial expressions
Also refers to
Cylindrical forms (e.g., cobnuts, cob loaves)
Seizing or capturing something
Etymology
Old English, related to form and structure
Latin "capere," meaning to seize or take
Role/Function
Supports corn kernels, used in cooking
Enforces law and order, maintains public safety
Compare with Definitions
Cob
Used in crafting and gardening.
The cob was dried and painted for a fall decoration.
Cop
Slang for capturing.
He managed to cop the last ticket for the show.
Cob
In bird feeding.
The corn cob served as a perfect feeder for the backyard birds.
Cop
In phrases, indicating acquisition.
She copped a great deal at the store.
Cob
Historical use in construction.
They explored the ancient house made of cob, admiring its sustainability.
Cop
Colloquial for arrest.
The thief was copped after a short chase.
Cob
Reference to cylindrical forms.
He enjoyed a cob loaf filled with warm, creamy soup.
Cop
Part of community safety.
The local cops organized a safety workshop for residents.
Cob
The core of an ear of corn.
After stripping the kernels, she used the cob to make a rich broth.
Cop
A police officer
A cop in a patrol car gave chase
Cob
A corncob
Corn on the cob.
Cop
Shrewdness; practical intelligence
He had the cop-on to stay clear of Hugh Thornley
Cob
A male swan.
Cop
A conical mass of thread wound on to a spindle.
Cob
A thickset, stocky, short-legged horse.
Cop
Catch or arrest (an offender)
He was copped for speeding
Cob
A small lump or mass, as of coal.
Cop
Receive or attain (something welcome)
She copped an award for her role in the film
Cob
A mixture of clay and straw used as a building material.
Cop
Strike (an attitude or pose)
I copped an attitude—I acted real tough
Cob
A corncob.
Cop
A police officer.
Cob
The seed-bearing head of a plant.
Cop
One that regulates certain behaviors or actions
"Faced with the world recession of the early 1980s, ... the World Bank ... became a stern economic taskmaster and cop" (Richard J. Barnet).
Cob
Clipping of cobnut
Cop
A cone-shaped or cylindrical roll of yarn or thread wound on a spindle.
Cob
A male swan.
Cop
Chiefly British A summit or crest, as of a hill.
Cob
(East Anglia) A gull, especially the black-backed gull (Larus marinus); also spelled cobb.
Cop
To get hold of; gain or win
A show that copped four awards.
Copped a ticket to the game.
Cob
A lump or piece of anything, usually of a somewhat large size, as of coal, or stone.
Cop
To perceive by one of the senses
"copped a quick look at the gentleman ... on the right" (Gail Sheehy).
Cob
(Midlands) A round, often crusty roll or loaf of bread.
Cop
To take unlawfully or without permission; steal.
Cob
(uncountable) A building material consisting of clay, sand, straw, water, and earth, similar to adobe; also called cobb, rammed earth or pisé.
Cop
To obtain, to purchase (as in drugs), to get hold of, to take.
Cob
A horse having a stout body and short legs.
Cop
(transitive) To (be forced to) take; to receive; to shoulder; to bear, especially blame or punishment for a particular instance of wrongdoing.
When caught, he would often cop a vicious blow from his father.
Cob
Any of the gold and silver coins that were minted in the Spanish Empire and valued in reales or escudos, such as the piece of eight—especially those which were crudely struck and irregularly shaped.
Cop
To see and record a railway locomotive for the first time.
Cob
(obsolete) One who is eminent, great, large, or rich.
Cop
(transitive) To steal.
Cob
A spider (cf. cobweb).
Cop
(transitive) To adopt.
No need to cop a 'tude with me, junior.
Cob
A small fish, the miller's thumb.
Cop
(transitive) To earn by bad behavior.
Cob
A large fish, especially the kabeljou (variant spelling of kob).
Cop
To admit, especially to a crime or wrongdoing.
I already copped to the murder. What else do you want from me?
Harold copped to being known as "Dirty Harry".
Cob
(obsolete) The head of a herring.
Cop
Of a pimp: to recruit a prostitute into the stable.
Cob
(obsolete) A tower or small castle on top of a hill.
Cop
(informal) A police officer or prison guard.
Cob
(obsolete) A thresher.
Cop
(obsolete) A spider.
Cob
A cylinder with pins in it, encoding music to be played back mechanically by a barrel organ.
Cop
(crafts) The ball of thread wound on to the spindle in a spinning machine.
Cob
A person of mixed black and white ancestry, especially a griffe; a mulatto.
Cop
(obsolete) The top, summit, especially of a hill.
Cob
A punishment consisting of blows inflicted on the buttocks with a strap or a flat piece of wood.
Cop
(obsolete) The crown (of the head); also the head itself.
The stature is bowed down in age, the cop is depressed.
Cob
To construct using mud blocks or to seal a wall using mud or an artificial equivalent.
Cop
A roughly dome-shaped piece of armor, especially one covering the shoulder, the elbow, or the knee.
Cob
(of growing corn) To have the heads mature into corncobs.
Cop
A tube or quill upon which silk is wound.
Cob
To remove the kernels from a corncob.
Cop
A merlon.
Cob
To thresh.
Cop
The top of a thing; the head; a crest.
Cop they used to callThe tops of many hills.
Cob
To break up ground with a hoe.
Cop
A conical or conical-ended mass of coiled thread, yarn, or roving, wound upon a spindle, etc.
Cob
To beat with a flat instrument; to paddle.
Cop
A tube or quill upon which silk is wound.
Cob
To throw, chuck, lob.
Cop
Same as Merlon.
Cob
To chip off unwanted pieces of stone, so as to form a desired shape or improve the quality of mineral ore.
Cop
A policeman.
Cob
The top or head of anything.
Cop
Uncomplimentary terms for a policeman
Cob
A leader or chief; a conspicuous person, esp. a rich covetous person.
All cobbing country chuffs, which make their bellies and their bags their god, are called rich cobs.
Cop
Take by theft;
Someone snitched my wallet!
Cob
The axis on which the kernels of maize or indian corn grow.
Cob
A spider; perhaps from its shape; it being round like a head.
Cob
A young herring.
Cob
A fish; - also called miller's thumb.
Cob
A short-legged and stout horse, esp. one used for the saddle.
Cob
A sea mew or gull; esp., the black-backed gull (Larus marinus).
Cob
A lump or piece of anything, usually of a somewhat large size, as of coal, or stone.
Cob
A cobnut; as, Kentish cobs. See Cobnut.
Cob
Clay mixed with straw.
The poor cottager contenteth himself with cob for his walls, and thatch for his covering.
Cob
A punishment consisting of blows inflictod on tho buttocas with a strap or a flat piece of wood.
Cob
A Spanish coin formerly current in Ireland, worth abiut 4s. 6d.
Cob
To strike
Cob
To break into small pieces, as ore, so as to sort out its better portions.
Cob
To punish by striking on the buttocks with a strap, a flat piece of wood, or the like.
Cob
Nut of any of several trees of the genus Corylus
Cob
Stocky short-legged harness horse
Cob
White gull having a black back and wings
Cob
Adult male swan
Common Curiosities
How is a cob used in cooking?
Cobs can be used to make broths or as holders for corn when eating.
What is a cob?
A cob is the central, woody part of an ear of corn, around which the kernels are arranged.
What does "cop" mean?
"Cop" primarily refers to a police officer or the act of capturing or seizing something.
Is "cop" always related to law enforcement?
While commonly associated with police officers, "cop" can also colloquially mean to seize, capture, or obtain something.
Is there a culinary use for cob?
Yes, cobs are often used to add flavor to stocks and broths.
What skills are required to be a cop?
Being a cop requires physical fitness, critical thinking, communication skills, and a strong sense of ethics.
Can "cob" refer to anything other than corn?
Yes, "cob" can also describe any cylindrical-shaped object or material, such as cobnuts or cob loaves.
Can "cop" be used as a verb?
Yes, "to cop" can mean to capture or seize, as well as to acquire or obtain something.
Do cobs have nutritional value?
While cobs themselves are not typically eaten, they can be used to add flavor to dishes.
What are some duties of a cop?
Cops are responsible for enforcing laws, maintaining public order, and ensuring community safety.
How does society view cops?
Society views cops as essential for maintaining law and order, though perspectives can vary based on individual experiences.
Are there other terms similar to "cop"?
Yes, synonyms include police officer, law enforcement officer, and constable, among others.
Can "cob" be used in construction?
Yes, "cob" refers to a natural building material made from clay, sand, straw, and water, used in some types of sustainable construction.
Is using a cob for bird feeding common?
Yes, dried corn cobs can be used as feeders for birds, often hung up or placed in gardens.
How does one become a cop?
Becoming a cop typically involves completing a law enforcement education program, passing physical and written exams, and undergoing training at a police academy.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
