hobby

¹

[ hob-ee ]

noun

, plural hob·bies.

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 hob·bies.

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

Hobby

³

[ hob-ee ]

noun

1. Oveta Culp [kuhlp], 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. any of several small Old World falcons, esp the European Falco subbuteo, formerly used in falconry

hobby

²

/ ˈhɒbɪ /

noun

1. an activity pursued in spare time for pleasure or relaxation
2. archaic.
   a small horse or pony
3. See hobbyhorse
   short for hobbyhorse
4. an early form of bicycle, without pedals

Derived Forms

• ˈhobbyist, noun

Other Words From

• hob·by·ist noun
• hob·by·less 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

C15: from Old French hobet, from hobe falcon; probably related to Middle Dutch hobbelen to roll, turn

Origin of hobby²

C14 hobyn, probably variant of proper name Robin; compare dobbin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. ride a hobby, to concern oneself excessively with a favorite notion or activity. Also ride a hobbyhorse.

Example Sentences

To come up with an experimental platform that might provide some answers, Irvine drew on one of his hobbies.

From Quanta Magazine

It’s not the hobby, it’s the people who do the hobby who make the tribe.

From Science News

When asked about her hobbies outside of politics, she immediately mentions spending time with her kids, although she laughs uproariously while adding that “it’s sometimes hard to make time, which makes me probably like every other mom ever.”

From Ozy

Since coronavirus upended consumer behavior — people’s life, hobbies, what they care about, who they are with, is all in flux — advertisers are groping for information on new and existing audiences.

From Digiday

My other hobby is that in the spring of 2019 I got into weightlifting, which is not a sentence that I ever expected myself to say.

From Science News For Students

Also, the next Hobby Lobbys, female Kurdish fighters and more.

From The Daily Beast

While the Hobby Lobby decision may have lost its cultural appeal, it still carries weight in the federal court system.

From The Daily Beast

They are for corporations like Hobby Lobby, and vast hospital networks, and, yes, adoption agencies.

From The Daily Beast

The remote controlled flying craft has gone from covert military ops to a communal backyard hobby.

From The Daily Beast

If you really think about it, is this not just some grand hobby?

From The Daily Beast

A strenuous worker, Mr. Johnstone, like most men who have no hobby, did not long survive his retirement from active business life.

From Project Gutenberg

The old fellow used to frequent the Quarter in summer, years ago—it was his hobby.

From Project Gutenberg

Hobby horses gaily prancing, Bats and Bowls and Maypole dancing.

From Project Gutenberg

"The Army's rotten for want of service," grumbled Williams, following out his own pet hobby.

From Project Gutenberg

Spiders at present are his hobby, and the note-book is filling up with columns of small figures.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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