Hob (hearth)


In a kitchen the hob is a projection, shelf, grate or bench for holding food or utensils at the back or side of a hearth to keep them warm, or an internal chimney-corner. In modern British English usage, the word refers to a cooktop or hotplate, as distinguished from an oven.

Etymology

The word is a noun meaning approximately "holder", derived from the Old English verb habban "to have, hold". The word hub "support of a disk or wheel" is apparently from the same source.

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