/ˈhɒ.bi/, /ˈhɑ.bi/
OriginShortened from hobby-horse, from Middle English hoby, hobyn, hobin (“small horse, pony”), from Old French hobi, *haubi, haubby, hobin ("a nag, hobby"; > Modern French aubin, Italian ubino), of Germanic origin: from Old French hober, ober (“to stir, move”), from Old Dutch hobben (“to toss, move up and down”); or from North Germanic origin related to Danish hoppe (“a mare”), Old Swedish hoppa (“a young mare”), North Frisian hoppe (“horse”); both ultimately from Proto-Germanic *huppōną (“to hop”), from Proto-Indo-European *kewb- (“to bend; a bend, joint”). More at hop, hobble.
The meaning of hobby-horse shifted from "small horse, pony" to "child's toy riding horse" to "favorite pastime or avocation" with the connecting notion being "activity that doesn't go anywhere". Possibly originally from a proper name for a horse, a diminutive of Robert or Robin (compare dobbin).
- An activity that one enjoys doing in one's spare time.
“I like to collect stamps from different countries as a hobby.”
“take up a hobby”
“give up your hobby”
- An extinct breed of horse native to the British Isles, also known as the Irish Hobby.
- Synonym of hobby horse (“a favorite topic”).
“"Well, I think East is right," said Arthur; "I can't see but what it's right to do the best you can, though it mayn't be the best absolutely. Every man isn't born to be a martyr."
"Of course, of cours”
- Any of four species of small falcons in the genus Falco, especially Falco subbuteo.
“He hawked – from nearby Esher, Richard Fox sent a servant with a hobby, which Henry received enthusiastically – and hunted, sending a present of freshly slaughtered deer to Princess Mary.”
- An English surname transferred from the given name.
Formshobbies(plural) · Hobbies(plural) · Hobbys(nonstandard, plural)