Hob, n.1
(hɒb)
Also 4–6 hobbe.
[A familiar by-form of Rob = Robin, Robert: cf. the parallel Hodge, Hick, for Roger, Richard, with H for R; also Dob, Dobbin, and Dick with initial D.]
1. A familiar or rustic variation of the Christian name Robert or Robin. Hence formerly a generic name for: A rustic, a clown. Cf. Hodge.
| c 1325 Pol. Songs (Camden) 216 Now Kyng Hobbe [= Sire Robert the Bruytz] in the mures ȝongeth, For te come to toune nout him ne longeth. 1399 Langl. Rich. Redeles i. 90 Oþer hobbis ȝe hadden of hurlewaynis kynne. 1549 Chaloner Erasm. on Folly D ij b, The rudest hobbe that maie be piked from the plough. 1573 Tusser Husb. ix. (1878) 17 To raise betimes the lubberlie, both snorting Hob and Margerie. 1607 Shakes. Cor. ii. iii. 123 To begge of Hob and Dicke, that does appeare Their needlesse Vouches. 1611 Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. ix. xxii. (1632) 1115 Hob, Dic, and Hic (meaning the Rustickes). 1682 New News fr. Bedlam 11 More fitter for the Country Hobs. 1778 Saints 5 And Priests with Hob go Snacks and share the Field. 1825 Brockett, Hob..also a clown; contracted from Robin. |
2. a. = Robin Goodfellow or Puck; a hobgoblin, sprite, elf. (See also
hob-thrush.)
| c 1460 Towneley Myst. (E.E.T.S.) ii. 297 Whi, who is that hob ouer the wall? we! who was that that piped so small? 1559 Mirr. Mag., Owen Glendour viii, Merlyn fathered by an Hob. c 1580 J. Jeffere Bugbears iii. iii. in Archiv Stud. Neu. Spr. (1897), Puckes, puckerels, hob howlard..and Robin Good-felow. a 1625 Fletcher Mons. Thomas iv. vi, From elves, hobs, and fairies, That trouble our dairies..Defend us, good Heaven! 1627 Drayton Nymphidia Wks. (1753) 462 Yet much they doubted there to stay, Lest Hob should hap to find them. 1891 Atkinson Moorland Par. 65 If there was a ‘weight of work’ craving to be done.. Hob would come unasked, unwarned to the rescue. |
b. Phr.
to play hob: to ‘play the devil’, work mischief. Also
to raise hob. Chiefly
U.S.| 1838 N.Y. Mirror 2 June 387/1 They say it's playing hob with the fellers in these here parts. 1853 Kane Grinnell Exp. xxvi. (1856) 213, I need not say that the cold metal played hob with the tinkers. 1905 B. Tarkington In Arena 23, I believe that idiot's right, he won't lose votes by playing hob with us. 1911 J. C. Lincoln Cap'n Warren's Wards vi. 88 Theoph's been raising hob because the Odd Fellows built on to their building. 1916 H. L. Wilson Somewhere in Red Gap iii. 120 He looked like one of them silly little critters that play hob with Rip Van Winkle..before he goes to sleep. 1927 P. Marks Lord of Himself xvi. 244 Carl parked the car and stowed the flask in the door-pocket before speaking, and then he murmured sympathetically, ‘It [sc. liquor] played hob with you, didn't it, old girl?’ 1935 M. de la Roche Young Renny xxv. 219 It's the food you eat without enjoyment that plays hob with your stomach. 1940 D. A. Lord Our Lady in Mod. World iii. 141 The revolutionists who are playing hob with our generation are really masters of the obsolete. 1949 Chicago Tribune 14 June ii. 1/1 The change in time on the new quiz programs is raising hob with getting the evening chores finished. 1967 Electronics 6 Mar. 352/2 The Chinese presumably could raise hob..with vlf transmission to submarines from the base at North West Cape. |
3. A name for the male ferret. Also
hob-ferret.
| 1688 R. Holme Armoury ii. 136/1 The male..Ferret [is] the Hob. 1882 W. Worc. Gloss., Hob-ferret, a male ferret. [In Staffordshire the male of a ferret is called ‘the hob’, the female ‘the gill’.] |
4. attrib. and
Comb. † hob-clunch, a rustic, boor;
Hob Collingwood (see
quot.);
hob-ferret (see 3);
hob-lantern (also
hobby-lantern), a Will-o'-the-wisp;
hob-like a., rustic, clownish, boorish:
† hoblob, a rustic, clown: see
lob.
| 1578 Whetstone 2nd Pt. Promos & Cass. iii. ii, Rapax. What, bytest thou, *hobclunch? John. Yea, that chull and punch. |
| 1829 Brockett, *Hob Collingwood..the four of hearts at whist; considered by old ladies an unlucky card. 1825–80 Jamieson, Hob Collinwood, the name given to the four of Hearts at whist. Teviotd[ale]. |
| 1847–78 Halliwell, Hobby-lanthorn, an ignis fatuus. Also termed a *Hob⁓lantern. Var. dial. |
| 1611 Cotgr., Rude, rude..*hoblike, lumpish, loblike. |
| 1583 Stanyhurst æneis iv. (Arb.) 99 Foorth with thee rustical *hoblobs. 1599 Nashe Lenten Stuffe 8 The draffe of the carterly Hoblobs. |