1609. Jonson, Epicœne, iv., 2. Daw. Here be in presence have tasted
of her favors. Cler. What a neighing hobby-horse is this!
Verb (old).—To romp.
Hob-collingwood, subs. phr. (North Country).—The four of hearts,
considered an unlucky card.
Hob-jobber, subs. (streets).—A man or boy on the look out for small
jobs—holding horses, carrying parcels, and the like.
Hob-nail, subs. (old).—A countryman. For synonyms, see Joskin.
1647. Beaumont and Fletcher, Women Pleased, ii., 6. The hob-nail
thy husband’s as fitly out o’ th’ way now.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Hobnail, a country clodhopper, from
the shoes of country farmers and ploughmen being commonly stuck
full of hobnails, and even often clouted, or tipped with iron.
Hobnailed, adj. (colloquial).—Boorish; clumsy; coarse; ill-done.
1599. Jonson, Every Man out of his Humour. Sog. A wretched
hobnailed chuff.
Hobson’s-choice, subs. (common).—That or none: i.e., there is no
alternative. [Popularly derived from the name of a Cambridge livery
stable keeper, whose rule was that each customer must take the horse
next the door, or have no horse at all. That old Hobson existed is
clear from Milton’s epitaph, but Bellenden Ker (Archæology of Popular
Phrases) affirms the story to be a Cambridge hoax, and maintains the
proverb to be identical in sound and sense as the Low Saxon, Op soens
schie ho eysche = when he had a kiss he wanted something else.]
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Hobson’s Choice, that or None.
1710. Ward, England’s Reformation, ch. iv. ’Tis Hobson’s Choice,
take that or none.
1712. Steele, Spectator, No. 509, p. 191. I shall conclude this
discourse with an explanation of a proverb [Hobson’s choice], which
by vulgar error is taken and used when a man is reduced to an
extremity, whereas the propriety of the maxim is to use it when you
would say there is plenty, but you must make such a choice as not
to hurt another who is to come after you. Ibid. He [Hobson] kept a
stable of forty good cattle, always ready and fit for travelling;
but when a man came for a horse he was led into the stable, where
there was great choice, but was obliged to take the horse which
stood nearest to the stable-door; so that every customer was alike
well served, according to his chance, and every horse ridden with
the same justice.
1717. Cibber, Non-Juror, i. Can any woman think herself happy
that’s obliged to marry only with a Hobson’s choice?
1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1820. Reynolds [Peter Corcoran], The Fancy. Black men now are
Hobson’s choice.
1851. F. E. Smedley, Lewis Arundel, ch. liii. ‘When shall we go?’
inquired Laura. ‘Why, it’s a case of Hobson’s choice,’ returned
Leicester.
1854. Notes and Queries, 21 Jan., p. 51. It was clear a choice had
been given to him, but it was a Hobson’s choice.
Hock, subs. (American).—1. The last card in the dealer’s box at faro.
[From soda (q.v.) to hock = from beginning to end.]
2. In. pl. (common).—The feet. Curby hocks = clumsy feet. For synonyms,
see Creepers. [From the stable.]
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Hocks ... you have left the marks
of your dirty hocks on my clean stairs.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.
Old hock, subs. phr. (common).—Stale beer; swipes (q.v.). See Hockey.
In hock, adv. phr. (general).—Laid by the heels; fleeced; bested
(q.v.).; and (thieves’), in prison.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum. ‘If the cove should be caught in the hock
he won’t snickle,’ if the fellow should be caught in the act, he
would not tell.
Hock-dockies, subs. (old).—Shoes. For synonyms, see Trotter-cases.
1789. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 173. Shoes. Hockey-dockeys.
Hockey, adj. (old).—Drunk, especially on stale beer. For synonyms, see
Drinks and Screwed.
1796. Grose, Vulg. Tongue (3rd Ed.), s.v.
Hocus, subs. (old: now recognised).—1. A cheat; an imposter. [An
abbreviation of hocus-pocus (q.v.).]
1654. Witts Recreations. Here Hocas lyes with his tricks and his
knocks, Whom death hath made sure as a juglers box; Who many hath
cozen’d by his leiger-demain, Is presto convey’d and here
underlain. Thus Hocas he’s here, and here he is not, While death
plaid the Hocas, and brought him to th’ pot.