HOBBY, the name of a hawk called by some authors subbuteo. See FALCO.
It is a hawk of the lure, and not of the fist; and is very like the faker, only much less. It makes excellent sport with net and spaniels; for when the birds see the hobby, they dare not commit themselves to the wing, but lie close to the ground, and so are taken in nets.
HOBBY is also a name formerly given to strong active horses of a middling size: they are reported to have been originally natives of Ireland, and were much liked and used. Nags answer the same description as to size, qualities, and employments.
HOBGOBLIN is a name vulgarly applied to fairies or apparitions. Skinner calls the word robogoblinus, and derives it from Robin Goodfellow, Hob being the nick-name of Robin: but Wallis and Junius, with greater probability, derive it from hoggoblinus, empusa, because
Moblers
Hody.
because they are supposed to hop without moving both their feet.