hob

hob
   In the north of England and some Midlands counties, hob was the most common name for rough, hairy creatures of the brownie type, whose work brought prosperity to farms; like brownies, they might become mischievous nuisances if annoyed, and would leave for ever if given new clothes. On the other hand, it might prove impossible to get rid of a troublesome hob (Henderson, 1866: 228; Atkinson, 1891: 54-5). There were also outdoor hobs, notably one living in a cave called the Hobhole in Runswick Bay, supposed able to cure whooping cough (Wright, 1913: 202).
   There is no special significance to the name; it is a common medieval shortening of 'Robert' or 'Robin', often implying 'country bumpkin, stupid peasant'. The first record of it being used of a supernatural being is from 1460; the compounds hobgoblin and
   hobthrush appear in the following century.
   ■ For discussion of this and related words, see Briggs, 1976: 222-3; and Gillian Edwards, Hobgoblin and Sweet Puck (1974), 123-42.

A Dictionary of English folklore. . 2014.

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  • hob — hob·ba·de·hoy; hob·ber; hob·bil; hob·bism; hob·ble·de·hoy; hob·ble·shew; hob·ble·te·hoy; hob·bling·ly; hob·bly; hob·by·ist; hob; hob·son job·son; hob·son s; hob·thrush; hob·bist; hob·ble; hob·bler; hob·by; hob·nob; hob·ba·dy·hoy; hob·ber·de·hoy;… …   English syllables

  • Hob — or HOB may refer to:* Hob: a household spirit in Northern England * A generic term for various Dwarf like and Elf like magical creatures in Germanic folklore * A devil * The top cooking surface on a stove * A male ferret * A tool used in hobbing …   Wikipedia

  • Hob — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. HOB, sigle composé des trois lettres H, O et B, peut faire référence à : Aéroport du Comté de Lea, situé à Hobbs, au Nouveau Mexique aux États Unis,… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • HOB — bezeichnet: Herrenoberbekleidung House of Boys, eine Bordellform Hob bzw. Hob. bezeichnet: das Hoboken Verzeichnis der Werke von Joseph Haydn Diese Seite ist eine Begriffsklärung zur Unte …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Hob — bezeichnet Herrenoberbekleidung House of Boys, eine Bordellform ein Softwareunternehmen in der Unternehmensgruppe Brandstätter Hob bzw. Hob. bezeichnet das Hoboken Verzeichnis der Werke von Joseph Haydn …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • hob — → heben * * * hob: ↑ heben. * * * hob: ↑heben …   Universal-Lexikon

  • hob — hob1 [häb] n. [? var. of HUB] 1. a projecting ledge at the back or side of a fireplace, used for keeping a kettle, saucepan, etc. warm 2. a peg used as a target in quoits, etc. 3. a device for cutting teeth in a gear blank, etc. hob2 [häb] n. [ME …   English World dictionary

  • Hob — Hob, n. (Zo[ o]l.) The male ferret. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Hob — Hob, n. [Prob. akin to hump. Cf. {Hub}. ] [1913 Webster] 1. The hub of a wheel. See {Hub}. Washington. [1913 Webster] 2. The flat projection or iron shelf at the side of a fire grate, where things are put to be kept warm. Smart. [1913 Webster] 3 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Hob — Hob, n. [Orig. an abbrev. of Robin, Robert; Robin Goodfellow a celebrated fairy, or domestic spirit. Cf. {Hobgoblin}, and see {Robin}.] 1. A fairy; a sprite; an elf. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] From elves, hobs, and fairies, . . . Defend us, good… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Hob. — Hob. 〈Abk. für〉 Hobokenverzeichnis * * * Hob.,   Hoboken, Anthony van …   Universal-Lexikon

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