Trin. Coll. Dublin.
209. _The Name "Robert."_--Can any of your readers offer any suggestions
as to how the name "Robert," and its various diminutives, became
connected with so much diablerie?
Besides the host of _hob_-goblins, _hob_-thrush, _hob_-with-the-lantern,
and the Yorkshire _Dobbies_, we have those two mysterious wights _Robin_
Hood and _Robin_ Goodfellow, and "superstitious favourite" the _Robin_
Redbreast. It is a term also frequently applied to idiotcy (invariably
among our lower orders linked with the idea of super-naturalism).
_Hobbil_ in the northern and _Dobbin_ in the midland districts of
England are terms used to denote a heavy, torpid fellow. The French
_Robin_ was formerly used in the same sense.