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Hobby

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A favourite pursuit. The hobby is a falcon trained to fly at pigeons and partridges. As hawks were universal pets in the days of falconry, and hawking the favourite pursuit, it is quite evident how the word hobby got its present meaning. Hobby-horse is a corruption of Hobby-hause (hawk-tossing), or throwing off the hawk from the wrist. Hobby is applied to a little pet riding-horse by the same natural transposition as a mews for hawks is now a place for horses. (French, hobereau, a hawk, a hobby.)

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Hoare
Hoarstone
Hoax
Hob
Hob and Nob
Hobbema
Hobbididance
Hobbinol
Hobbism
Hobbler
Hobby
Hobby-horse
Hobedy-hoig
Hobgoblin
Hobinol
Hoblers or Hovellers
Hobnail
Hob Nob
Hob’s Pound
Hobson’s Choice
Hock