Hob"son's choice" (?). A choice without an alternative; the thing
offered or nothing.
It is said to have had its origin in the name of one Hobson, at
Cambridge, England, who let horses, and required every customer to take
in his turn the horse which stood next the stable door.
Hoc"co (?), n. (Zoˆl.) The crested curassow; -- called also royal
pheasant. See Curassow.
Hoche"pot (?), n. Hotchpot. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Hock (?), n. [So called from Hochheim, in Germany.] A Rhenish wine, of
a light yellow color, either sparkling or still. The name is also given
indiscriminately to all Rhenish wines.
Hock, Hough (&?;), n. [ AS. h&?;h the heel; prob. akin to Icel. hsinn
hock sinew, Dan. hasc, G. hechse, h‰chse, LG. hacke, D. hak; also to L.
coxa hip (cf. Cuisses), Skr. kaksha armpit. √12. Cf. Heel.] 1.
(a) The joint in the hind limb of quadrupeds between the leg and shank,
or tibia and tarsus, and corresponding to the ankle in man. (b) A piece
cut by butchers, esp. in pork, from either the front or hind leg, just
above the foot.