hobby

¹

[ hob-ee ]

noun

, plural hob·bies.

1. an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation and not as a main occupation:

   Her hobbies include stamp-collecting and woodcarving.

2. a child's hobbyhorse.
3. Archaic. a small horse.

hobby

²

[ hob-ee ]

noun

, plural hob·bies.

1. a small Old World falcon, Falco subbuteo, formerly flown at such small game as larks.

Hobby

³

[ hob-ee ]

noun

1. Oveta Culp [kuhlp], 1905–1995, U.S. newspaper publisher and government official: first director of Women's Army Corps 1942–45; first Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare 1953–55.

hobby

¹

/ ˈhɒbɪ /

noun

1. an activity pursued in spare time for pleasure or relaxation
2. archaic.
   a small horse or pony
3. short for hobbyhorse
4. an early form of bicycle, without pedals

hobby

²

/ ˈhɒbɪ /

noun

1. any of several small Old World falcons, esp the European Falco subbuteo, formerly used in falconry

Derived Forms

• ˈhobbyist, noun

Other Words From

• hob·by·ist noun
• hob·by·less adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hobby¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English hoby(n), probably from Robin, or Robert ( hob ² ), used as horse's name, as in dobbin

Origin of hobby²

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English hoby, from Middle French hobé, variant of Middle French, Old French hobel (compare French hobereau ), probably noun derivative of hobeler “to skirmish, harass,” perhaps from Middle Dutch hob(b)elen “to turn, roll”; compare Dutch hobbelen “to rock, jolt” ( hobble )

Word History and Origins

Origin of hobby¹

C14 hobyn, probably variant of proper name Robin; compare dobbin

Origin of hobby²

C15: from Old French hobet, from hobe falcon; probably related to Middle Dutch hobbelen to roll, turn

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. ride a hobby, to concern oneself excessively with a favorite notion or activity. Also ride a hobbyhorse.

Example Sentences

In January, I drove through an affluent community of country roads, hobby farms and sprawling hilly yards outside of Fairfax, Virginia, to the home of Jared Taylor.

From Salon

"It's always just been a hobby rather than something I want to do in front of everyone else," they say.

From BBC

“This is my passion, my hobby,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

She added: “It is quite emotional looking and seeing the amount and type of people from every walk of life and every hobby – and they have all come down for one cause.”

From BBC

We think that’s great for Tucker—not the demon attack, but the Bible-reading hobby—and are glad to see how it’s reformed him, such as when he’s … assuring Madison Square Garden crowds that the only way Harris can win the election is through mass cheating.

From Slate

Related Words

• amusement
• art
• avocation
• craft
• diversion
• fad
• fun
• obsession
• specialty
• sport