hobby horse en · NOUN
Pronunciation
Etymology
From Middle English hobye hors (“a stock figure in Morris dances, created by means of an exaggeratedly equine costume”), equivalent to hobby (“small horse or pony”) + horse.
Meanings
- (qualifier:originally) The Irish Hobby, an extinct breed of horse.
- A child's toy consisting of a (usually wooden or cloth) horse's head mounted on a stick.
-
(figuratively) A topic that elicits a prolonged and enthusiastic discussion from an individual.
The squire was now on his hobby-horse, as we say; he had placed the old worn fur cap by his side on the sofa, leaving his bald head and grey hairs exposed.
1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 250:Don't ask him about global warming: it's his favourite hobby horse, you'll never get away.
- A puppetlike costume used in some traditional dances and festivals that gives its wearer the appearance of a man on horseback.
-
(historical) An early bicycle with no pedals or brakes.
British users rechristened the baron's invention the hobby horse then the dandy horse, because draisines became very fashionable with Regency gentlemen.
2015, Chris Boardman, The Biography of the Modern Bike: The Ultimate History of Bike Design, Hachette, →ISBN, page 10:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| hobby-horse | alternative | lexicographic | |
| hobby horses | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| hobbyhorse | alternative | lexicographic |
Deriveds
'Obby 'Oss · hobby-horsey · hobbyhorsical
Synonyms
Translations (43)
cmn 竹馬 /竹马 (child's toy) · af stokperdjie (topic about which someone loves to talk) · nl draisine (early bicycle) · sv käpphäst (child's toy) · gl cabaliño de xoguete (child's toy) · fr masque-cheval (puppet-like costume) · de Steckenpferd (child's toy) · fr dada (topic about which someone loves to talk) · hu vesszőparipa (child's toy) · pt cavalo de pau (child's toy) · es caballo de batalla (topic about which someone loves to talk) · tr oyuncak at (child's toy) · es monotema (topic about which someone loves to talk) · da kæphest (child's toy) · nl stokpaardje (child's toy) · mk коњче (child's toy) · es caballito de palo (child's toy) · fr violon d'Ingres (topic about which someone loves to talk) · fr dada (child's toy) · fr draisienne (early bicycle) · fr cheval bâton (child's toy) · nb kjepphest (child's toy) · fr cheval-jupon (puppet-like costume) · af stokperdjie (child's toy) · fi lempiaihe (topic about which someone loves to talk) · de Steckenpferd (topic about which someone loves to talk) · nl stokpaardje (topic about which someone loves to talk) · ru конёк (topic about which someone loves to talk) · es caballo batalloso (topic about which someone loves to talk) · sv käpphäst (topic about which someone loves to talk) · it cavalluccio di legno (child's toy) · nl stokpaard (child's toy) · hu vesszőparipa (topic about which someone loves to talk) · fr cheval chaussette (child's toy) · it cavallo di battaglia (topic about which someone loves to talk) · ru конёк (child's toy) · nb kjepphest (topic about which someone loves to talk) · es caballito (child's toy) · es caballito de batalla (topic about which someone loves to talk) · pl konik (topic about which someone loves to talk) · fi keppihevonen (child's toy) · fi keppihevonen (topic about which someone loves to talk) · da kæphest (topic about which someone loves to talk)