cobweb

English

Etymology

From the Middle English coppeweb, from coppe (“spider”), from attercoppe, from Old English āttercoppe, from ātor (“poison”) + copp (“head”) + web (“web”)

Pronunciation

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Noun

Wikipedia cobweb (plural cobwebs)

1. A spiderweb, or the remains of one, especially an asymmetrical one that is woven with an irregular pattern of threads.
2. One of its filaments; gossamer
3. (figuratively) Something thin and unsubstantial, or flimsy and worthless; rubbish.
   • Sir Philip Sidney

     The dust and cobwebs of that uncivil age.

4. An intricate plot to catch the unwary
   • Cowper

     Entangled in the cobwebs of the schools.

5. (Internet) a web page that either has not been updated for a long time, or that is rarely visited
6. The European spotted flycatcher.

Derived terms

• cobwebbed
• cobwebbery
• cobwebby
• cobwebsite

Translations

a spider’s web — see spiderweb