Hob"by (?), n.; pl.
Hobbies (#). [OE. hobi; cf. OF. hobe,
hobé, F. hobereau a hobby, a species of falcon.
OF. hober to move, stir. Cf. Hobby a horse.]
(Zoöl.) A small, strong-winged European falcon
(Falco subbuteo), formerly trained for hawking.
{ Hob"by (?), Hob"by*horse` (?), }
n. [OE. hobin a nag, OF. hobin hobby;
cf. hober to stir, move; prob. of German or Scand. origin; cf.
Dan. hoppe a mare, dial. Sw. hoppa; perh. akin to E.
hop to jump.] 1. A strong, active horse,
of a middle size, said to have been originally from Ireland; an
ambling nag. Johnson.
2. A stick, often with the head or figure of
a horse, on which boys make believe to ride. [ Usually under
the form hobbyhorse.]
3. A subject or plan upon which one is
constantly setting off; a favorite and ever-recurring theme of
discourse, thought, or effort; that which occupies one's attention
unduly, or to the weariness of others; a ruling passion.
[Usually under the form hobby.]
Not one of them has any hobbyhorse, to use the
phrase of Sterne.
Macaulay.
