hobby1
- an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation and not as a main occupation: Her hobbies include stamp-collecting and woodcarving.
- a child's hobbyhorse.
- Archaic. a small horse.
- ride a hobby, to concern oneself excessively with a favorite notion or activity.Also ride a hobbyhorse.
Origin of hobby1
hobby2
- a small Old World falcon, Falco subbuteo, formerly flown at such small game as larks.
Origin of hobby2
Hobby
- Oveta Culp [kuhlp] /kʌlp/, 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.
Examples from the Web for hobby
Contemporary Examples
While the Hobby Lobby decision may have lost its cultural appeal, it still carries weight in the federal court system.
They are for corporations like Hobby Lobby, and vast hospital networks, and, yes, adoption agencies.
In the wake of Hobby Lobby, activist lawyers are getting busy too.
Remember, corporations have religious consciences now, thanks to Hobby Lobby.
On March 25, I stood in line outside the Supreme Court, waiting to get into the Hobby Lobby oral argument.
Historical Examples
But her interest in his hobby for once failed to awaken his enthusiasm.
VivietteWilliam J. Locke
Is it to be a commercial union, this hobby of your minister here?
Diary from November 12, 1862, to October 18, 1863Adam Gurowski
"Because the solution of such matters is a hobby of his," Wrayson answered.
The AvengerE. Phillips Oppenheim
She mentions it to everybody; it's a sort of hobby of hers, like my humble self, and the roses.
Kent Knowles: QuahaugJoseph C. Lincoln
My two years at lectures had not been passed in vain, and surgery had been my hobby.
hobby1
- an activity pursued in spare time for pleasure or relaxation
- archaic, or dialect a small horse or pony
- short for hobbyhorse (def. 1)
- an early form of bicycle, without pedals
Word Origin
hobby2
- any of several small Old World falcons, esp the European Falco subbuteo, formerly used in falconry
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for hobby
n.
late 13c., hobyn, "small horse, pony," later "mock horse used in the morris dance," and c.1550 "child's toy riding horse," which led to hobby-horse in a transferred sense of "favorite pastime or avocation," first recorded 1670s, shortened to hobby by 1816. The connecting notion being "activity that doesn't go anywhere." Probably originally a proper name for a horse (cf. dobbin), a diminutive of Robert or Robin. The original hobbyhorse was a "Tourney Horse," a wooden or basketwork frame worn around the waist and held on with shoulder straps, with a fake tail and horse head attached, so the wearer appears to be riding a horse. These were part of church and civic celebrations at Midsummer and New Year's throughout England.