Chapter Hippocras to Hobgoblin of H by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Hobbism The principles of Thomas Hobbes, author of Leviathan (1588-1670). He taught that religion is a mere engine of state, and that man acts wholly on a consideration of self; even his benevolent acts spring from the pleasure he experiences in doing acts of kindness. A follower of Hobbes is called a Hobbist.

Hobbler or Clopinel. Jean de Meung, the poet, who wrote the sequel to the Romance of the Rose (1260-1320).
   Tyrtæus, the Greek elegiac poet, was called Hobbler because he introduced the alternate pentameter verse, which is one foot short of the old heroic metre.

Hobby A favourite pursuit. The hobby is a falcon trained to fly at pigeons and partridges. As hawks were universal pets in the days of falconry, and hawking the favourite pursuit, it is quite evident how the word hobby got its present meaning. Hobby-horse is a corruption of Hobby-hause (hawk-tossing), or throwing off the hawk from the wrist. Hobby is applied to a little pet riding-horse by the same natural transposition as a mews for hawks is now a place for horses. (French, hobereau, a hawk, a hobby.)

Hobby-horse A child's plaything, so called from the hobby-horse of the ancient morris-dance; a light frame of wicker-work, appropriately draped, in which someone was placed, who performed ridiculous gambols.

"The hobby-horse doth hither prance,
Maid Marrian and the Morris dance."
(1221.)

Hobedy-hoig sometimes written Hobbledehoy and hobidy-hoy, between a man and a boy; neither hay nor grass. Tusser says the third age of seven years (15 to 21) is to be kept "under Sir Hobbard de Hoy."

Hobgoblin Puck or robin Good-fellow. Keightley thinks it a corruption of Rob-Goblin - i.e. the goblin Robin, just as Hodge is the nickname of Roger, which seems to agree with the subjoined quotation:

"Those that Hobgoblin call you, and sweet Puck,
You do their work, and they shall have good luck."
Shakespeare: Midsummer Night's Dream, ii. .1

    Hob is certainly sometimes used for a sprite or fairy, as a hob-lantern - i.e. an ignis fatuus or fairy-lantern, but this may mean a "Puck-lantern" or "Robin Goodfellow-lantern."