Hobby Comes From a Toy Horse
A hobby is a leisure pursuit. The word shortens hobby horse, a child's toy that became a symbol of harmless obsession.
A hobby is an activity pursued for pleasure rather than payment. It is a shortening of *hobby horse*, the toy horse on a stick — *Hobin* being an old pet name for a horse. Riding a hobby horse meant occupying yourself with something that goes nowhere, so a hobby was originally a mildly mocking word for a harmless obsession. The full phrase survives in *to ride one's hobby horse*, meaning to return to a favourite grievance.
- A leisure activity. *Photography is her hobby.*
- Hobby horse — a toy, or a favourite topic. *His hobby horse.*
- Hobbyist — one who pursues a hobby. *A model hobbyist.*
- A small falcon. *A hobby hunting dragonflies.*
- Hobin — an old horse name. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | hobby | A new hobby. |
| Plural | hobbies | Two hobbies. |
| Agent | hobbyist | A hobbyist. |
| Compound | hobby horse | A hobby horse. |
| Bird | hobby | A hobby falcon. |
- Woodwork is his main hobby.Leisure.
- He is riding his hobby horse again.Idiom.
- The hobby is a small fast falcon.The bird.
Words from toys and games
- Hobby — from the toy horse on a stick
- Gambit — from chess, an opening sacrifice
- Stalemate — also from chess, a deadlock
- Wildcard — from card games, an unpredictable factor
- Level playing field — from sport, meaning fair conditions
A shortening of *hobby horse*, from *hobby*, a small horse, from Hobin, a familiar form of the name Robin used for horses.
What does riding your hobby horse mean?
Returning repeatedly to a favourite topic or grievance that bores everyone else.
Is the bird related?
Probably. The small falcon was likely named from the same word for a small horse.