Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun, plural hob·bies.
- 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.
noun plural -bies
- 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
noun plural -bies
- any of several small Old World falcons, esp the European Falco subbuteo, formerly used in falconry
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.