hobbledehoy

[ hob-uhl-dee-hoi ]

noun

1. an awkward, ungainly youth.

hobbledehoy

/ ˌhɒbəldɪˈhɔɪ /

noun

1. archaic.
   a clumsy or bad-mannered youth

Word History and Origins

Origin of hobbledehoy¹

1530–40; variant of hoberdyhoy, alliterative compound, equivalent to hoberd (variant of Roberd Robert) + -y ² + -hoy for boy ( b > h for alliteration; hob ² )

Word History and Origins

Origin of hobbledehoy¹

C16: from earlier hobbard de hoy, of uncertain origin