hobnob English · revision 1969

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈhɒbnɒb/ ''(UK)''; /ˈhɑbˌnɑb/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It comes from the phrase ''hob and nob'' or ''hob or nob'' “to toast each other by turns” (1756),^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(AHD) an alteration of ''hab nab'' “have or have not, hit or miss” (about 1550),^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(AHD)^(RHWU) ultimately from Old English ''habban'' “to have” and ''nabban'' “not to have”.^(Etymonline)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To drink to each other (1763).^(Etymonline)^(AHD)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Hab nab'' meant “get or lose, hit or miss”.^(AHD) As a drinking phrase it may have been an invitation, “take it or not”,^(Etymonline) and ''hob or nob'' was used when two people toasted one another or bought rounds in turn.^(Etymonline)^(AHD) The verb, to drink together, is dated 1813 by Merriam-Webster and 1828 by Barnhart.^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995) The modern sense, to associate familiarly with someone, often of higher rank, is from 1831 (Barnhart) or 1866 (Etymonline).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c1550 – ''hab nab'', hit or miss.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1601 – ''hob nob'', give or take.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1756 – ''hob and nob'', toasting each other.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1763 – to drink to each other.^(Etymonline)^(AHD)

+ * 1813 – verb, to drink sociably.^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1831 – to associate familiarly.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To associate familiarly or on friendly terms, especially with people of higher status.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(archaic)'' To drink together.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A friendly, informal chat.^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[hobnobber]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[have]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}