hobby

¹

[hob-ee]

noun

plural

hobbies 

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

hobbies 

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

Hobby

³

[hob-ee]

noun

1. Oveta Culp 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

Other Word Forms

• hobbyist noun
• hobbyless 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

The California welder has plenty of hobbies, including snowboarding, skiing and dirt biking.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Probably like a lot of other addicts, the type of personality that becomes obsessed with hobbies and new topics.

Read more on Salon

"Now I'm able to do something I did as a hobby as a full-time job. It's amazing. I get to do what I love day in, day out - twice a day, three times a day."

Read more on BBC

Something you could look for, instead, is people with hobbies that have delayed gratification, Lee suggested.

Read more on MarketWatch

I have always had a priority of family first, hobby second.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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