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hobnob
[ hob-nob ]
/ ˈhɒbˌnɒb /
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verb (used without object), hob·nobbed, hob·nob·bing.
to associate on very friendly terms (usually followed by with): She often hobnobs with royalty.
Archaic. to drink together.
noun
a friendly, informal chat.
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Origin of hobnob
First recorded in 1825–30 in the sense “hit or miss; at random”; from the phrase hab or nab literally, “have or have not,” from Middle English habbe or nabbe, Old English habban “to have” + nabbn “not to have” (from ne “not” + habban “to have”)
Words nearby hobnob
hobgoblin, hobnail, hobnail cell, hobnailed, hobnail liver, hobnob, hobo, Hoboken, Hobrecht, Hobson, Hobson-Jobson
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use hobnob in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for hobnob
hobnob
/ (ˈhɒbˌnɒb) /
verb -nobs, -nobbing or -nobbed (intr often foll by with)
to socialize or talk informally
obsolete to drink (with)
Word Origin for hobnob
C18: from hob or nob to drink to one another in turns, hence, to be familiar, ultimately from Old English habban to have + nabban not to have
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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