Word Study
hobnob
CIDE DICTIONARY
hobnob, adv. [AS. habban to have + habban to have not; ne not + habban to have. See Have, and cf. Habnab.].
- Have or have not; -- a familiar invitation to reciprocal drinking. Shak. [1913 Webster]
- At random; hit or miss. (Obs.) Holinshed. [1913 Webster]
hobnob, v. i.
- To drink familiarly (with another). [1913 Webster]
- To associate familiarly; to be on intimate terms; as, to hobnob with the political elite. [1913 Webster]
hobnob, n.
Familiar, social intercourse. W. Black. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
hobnob, v.intr. (hobnobbed, hobnobbing)
1 (usu. foll. by with) mix socially or informally.
2 drink together.
1 (usu. foll. by with) mix socially or informally.
2 drink together.
Etymology
hob or nob = give or take, of alternate drinking; earlier hab nab, = have or not have
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