English Dictionary: hobby | by the DICT Development Group |
3 results for hobby | |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
| |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Hobby \Hob"by\, n.; pl. {Hobbies}. [OE. hobi; cf. OF. hobe, hob[82], F. hobereau a hobby, a species of falcon. OF. hober to move, stir. Cf. {Hobby} a horse.] (Zo[94]l.) A small, strong-winged European falcon ({Falco subbuteo}), formerly trained for hawking. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Hobby \Hob"by\, Hobbyhorse \Hob"by*horse`\, n. [OE. hobin a nag, OF. hobin hobby; cf. hober to stir, move; prob. of German or Scand. origin; cf. Dan. hoppe a mare, dial. Sw. hoppa; perh. akin to E. hop to jump.] 1. A strong, active horse, of a middle size, said to have been originally from Ireland; an ambling nag. --Johnson. 2. A stick, often with the head or figure of a horse, on which boys make believe to ride. [ Usually under the form {hobbyhorse}.] 3. A subject or plan upon which one is constantly setting off; a favorite and ever-recurring theme of discourse, thought, or effort; that which occupies one's attention unduly, or to the weariness of others; a ruling passion. [Usually under the form {hobby}.] Not one of them has any hobbyhorse, to use the phrase of Sterne. --Macaulay. |