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From: Lauren Boyd <>
Subject: [STEWART] Mobby, Mobbi, Mabby -- From the Oxford English Dictionary
Date: Mon, 08 Dec 2003 06:32:54 -0800

Definition for this word is not found in the American Heritage Dictionary.


Also 7-8 mobby, 7 mobbi, (mabby). [a. Carib mabi batata, drink made from batatas.]

1. In the West Indies: a. A spirituous liquor made from the batata or sweet potato.

1638 T. VERNEY in V. Papers (1853) 194 This as we call mobby is only potatoes boyled,
and then pressed as hard as they can till all
the juce is gon out of the root into fayre water, and after three houres this is good
drink. 1750 G. HUGHES Barbados 34 note, Mobby is a
Drink made with pounded Potatoes, and Water fermented with Sugar or Molasses. 1826 H. N.
COLERIDGE West Indies (1832) 40 Their
suppers being a few potatoes for meat, and water or mobbie to drink.


b. (See quot. 1859.)

1833 MRS. CARMICHAEL Dom. Mann. W. Ind. II. xiv. 68 Ginger beer, mobee, and orgeat are
always plentiful [in the market]. 1859
BARTLETT Dict. Amer., Mobee, a fermented liquor made by the negroes in the West Indies,
prepared with sugar, ginger, and snake-root.


2. In America: The expressed juice of apples and peaches, used in the distillation of
apple and peach brandy;
also the brandy itself. mobby punch (see quot. 1705).

1705 R. BEVERLEY Virginia IV. II. xv. §74 (1722) 254 Mobby Punch, made either of Rum
from the Caribbee Islands, or Brandy
distill'd from their Apples and Peaches. 1860 WORCESTER, Mobby, the liquid or juice first
expressed from apples and peaches, and
afterwards distilled to make apple or peach brandy.

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• [STEWART] Mobby, Mobbi, Mabby -- From the Oxford English Dictionary by Lauren Boyd <>