Hobson-Jobson

[hob-suhn-job-suhn]

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

/ ˌhɒbsənˈdʒɒbsən /

noun

1. another word for folk etymology

Word History and Origins

Origin of Hobson-Jobson¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of Hobson-Jobson¹

C19: Anglo-Indian folk-etymological variant of Arabic yā Hasan! yā Husayn! O Hasan! O Husain! (ritual lament for the grandsons of Mohammed); influenced by the surnames Hobson and Jobson

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.”

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

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Called Hobson-Jobson, it included -

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

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

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