Hobson-Jobson

American  

[hob-suhn-job-suhn] / ˈhɒb sənˈdʒɒb sən /

noun

1. the alteration of a word or phrase borrowed from a foreign language to accord more closely with the phonological and lexical patterns of the borrowing language, as in English hoosegow from Spanish juzgado.

---

hobson-jobson British  

/ ˌhɒbsənˈdʒɒbsən /

noun

1. another word for folk etymology

---

Etymology

Origin of Hobson-Jobson

1625–35; Indian English rendering of Arabic yā Ḥasan, yā Husayn lament uttered during taʿziyah; an example of such an alteration

Example Sentences

Another section, devoted to the Anglo-Indian dictionary known as “Hobson-Jobson,” reminds us that South Asia gave English not just words like “chutney” and “nirvana” but also “cummerbund,” “khaki” and “shampoo.”

From Washington Post

In 1886 Henry Yule and Arthur Burnell published Hobson-Jobson, a guide to words from Indian languages that had passed into English.

From BBC

Called Hobson-Jobson, it included -

From BBC

Hobson-Jobson is the dictionary's short, and mysterious title.

From BBC

For writers such as Mr Nagra, Hobson-Jobson has often been a source of inspiration.

From BBC