Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
hobnob [hob-nob] ExamplesWord Origin See more synonyms for hobnob on Thesaurus.com 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.
Origin of hobnob 1595–1605; from the phrase hab or nab literally, have or have not, Old English habban to have + nabban not to have (ne not + habban to have) Related Words for hobnob fraternize, consort, socialize, mix, mingle, pal Examples from the Web for hobnob Historical Examples of hobnob
He’d not turn from the duty intrusted to him to hobnob with a Prince of the Blood.
The Knight Of Gwynne, Vol. I (of II)
Charles James Lever
Again I am struck by the familiar way in which the Russians hobnob with the Mongols.
Elizabeth Kendall
You would not wish to insult me by refusing to hobnob with me?
Gustave Aimard
Here on the road they are as good as any; they hobnob with the rose.
Stanton Davis Kirkham
How odd it is that the Joyeuses should care to hobnob with demi-castors.
Edgar Saltus
British Dictionary definitions for hobnob hobnob 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 Word Origin and History for hobnob v.
1763, “to drink to each other,” from hob and nob (1756) “to toast each other by turns, to buy alternate rounds of drinks,” from c.1550 hab nab “to have or have not, hit or miss,” probably ultimately from Old English habban, nabban “have, not have,” with the negative particle ne- attached, as was customary. Modern sense of “socialize” is 1866. Related: Hobnobbed; hobnobbing.