Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “hobnob” come from?

hobnob (English) comes from English hob and nob, from English hab nab, from Old English habban, from Proto-West Germanic habbjan, from Proto-Germanic habjaną, from Proto-Indo-European kh₂pyé-, from Proto-Indo-European keh₂p- — to seize, grab; to seize; take up; lift; to take,...

hobnob (English): A toast made while touching glasses together; A...

Definitions

  1. A toast made while touching glasses together; A...

Ancestry of “hobnob”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishhob and nob—
2Englishhab nabto have or have not, in the sense of an...
3Old Englishhabbanto have, to possess; have
4Proto-West Germanichabbjanto have; to lift
5Proto-Germanichabjanąto have, to hold; to lift, heave
6Proto-Indo-Europeankh₂pyé-—
7Proto-Indo-Europeankeh₂p-to seize, grab; to seize; take up; lift; to take,...

Words derived from “hobnob”

  • hobnobber
Every word from Proto-Indo-European keh₂p- →