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• Hobson-Jobson
  Hobson-Jobson

  noun

  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
  hobson-jobson

  noun

  another word for folk etymology

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.

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hobson-jobson British  

/ ˌhɒbsənˈdʒɒbsən /

noun

1. another word for folk etymology

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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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Hobson-Jobson

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

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2012

Mr Nagra says this is exactly what he loves about Hobson-Jobson.

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2012

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

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2012

"I love these rhyming words in Hobson-Jobson," says Mr Nagra.

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2012

Burnell originated with Sir Henry Yule the well-known dictionary of Anglo-Indian words and phrases, Hobson-Jobson.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 4 "Bulgaria" to "Calgary" by Various

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