hobnob

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈhɒbnɒb/ (UK); /ˈhɑbˌnɑb/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It comes from the phrase hob and nob or hob or nob “to toast each other by turns” (1756),^[2][3][4] an alteration of hab nab “have or have not, hit or miss” (about 1550),^[2][3][4][5] ultimately from Old English habban “to have” and nabban “not to have”.^[3][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

To drink to each other (1763).^[3][4]

Semantic evolution

Hab nab meant “get or lose, hit or miss”.^[4] As a drinking phrase it may have been an invitation, “take it or not”,^[3] and hob or nob was used when two people toasted one another or bought rounds in turn.^[3][4] The verb, to drink together, is dated 1813 by Merriam-Webster and 1828 by Barnhart.^[6][2] The modern sense, to associate familiarly with someone, often of higher rank, is from 1831 (Barnhart) or 1866 (Etymonline).^[2][3][1]

Timeline

• c1550 – hab nab, hit or miss.^[2][3]
• 1601 – hob nob, give or take.^[2]
• 1756 – hob and nob, toasting each other.^[2][3]
• 1763 – to drink to each other.^[3][4]
• 1813 – verb, to drink sociably.^[6]
• 1831 – to associate familiarly.^[2]

Modern meaning

Verb

1. To associate familiarly or on friendly terms, especially with people of higher status.
2. (archaic) To drink together.

Noun

1. A friendly, informal chat.

Word family

• hobnobber

Related words

• have

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d e f The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
5. ^ a b Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
6. ^ a b Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster