Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “hob” come from?

Hob comes from Middle English hob, of unknown origin and meaning.

hob (English): A kind of cutting tool, used to cut the teeth of...

Definitions

  1. A kind of cutting tool, used to cut the teeth of...

Ancestry of “hob”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishHob—
2EnglishrobinAny of various passerine birds of the families...
3Middle EnglishRobin—
4Old FrenchRobert—
5Frankishberhtbright
6Proto-Germanicberhtazbright, shining
7Proto-Germanichrabnazraven
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱorh₂-—
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱer-to grow, to make grow, to nourish; to plait,...
10Proto-Indo-Europeankr̥-to turn, to bend
11Proto-Indo-Europeanker-army

Words derived from “hob”

  • hobgoblin
  • hobnailed
  • hobnail
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ker- →