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

Jen Galvagna, head of trust, estates and tax at Bank of America, worked with a trust that specifically funded a child’s equestrian hobby.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It’s a hobby he said he never would have picked up if not for how easy it is on Robinhood.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The prince has seemingly had a change of heart in relation to the hobby, which Catherine, Princess of Wales, has previously spoken about enjoying herself.

Read more on BBC

Sales at clothing, hobby and electronics stores all turned negative as well.

Read more on Barron's

By the mid-1980s, Meyer was wealthy enough to retire, at age 59, to pursue his hobbies, which included flying airplanes and gliders.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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