'Hobbyhorse' definitions:
Definition of 'hobbyhorse'
(from WordNet)
noun
A topic to which one constantly reverts; "don't get him started on his hobbyhorse"
noun
A child's plaything consisting of an imitation horse mounted on rockers; the child straddles it and pretends to ride [syn: hobby, hobbyhorse, rocking horse]
Definition of 'Hobbyhorse'
From: GCIDE
- Hobby \Hob"by\, Hobbyhorse \Hob"by*horse`\, n. [OE. hobin a nag, OF. hobin hobby; cf. hober to stir, move; prob. of German or Scand. origin; cf. Dan. hoppe a mare, dial. Sw. hoppa; perh. akin to E. hop to jump.]
- 1. A strong, active horse, of a middle size, said to have been originally from Ireland; an ambling nag. --Johnson. [1913 Webster]
- 2. A stick, often with the head or figure of a horse, on which boys make believe to ride. [ Usually under the form hobbyhorse.] [1913 Webster]
- 3. A subject or plan upon which one is constantly setting off; a favorite and ever-recurring theme of discourse, thought, or effort; that which occupies one's attention unduly, or to the weariness of others; a ruling passion. [Usually under the form hobby.] [1913 Webster]
- Not one of them has any hobbyhorse, to use the phrase of Sterne. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'hobbyhorse'
From: GCIDE
- Hobby \Hob"by\, Hobbyhorse \Hob"by*horse`\, n. [OE. hobin a nag, OF. hobin hobby; cf. hober to stir, move; prob. of German or Scand. origin; cf. Dan. hoppe a mare, dial. Sw. hoppa; perh. akin to E. hop to jump.]
- 1. A strong, active horse, of a middle size, said to have been originally from Ireland; an ambling nag. --Johnson. [1913 Webster]
- 2. A stick, often with the head or figure of a horse, on which boys make believe to ride. [ Usually under the form hobbyhorse.] [1913 Webster]
- 3. A subject or plan upon which one is constantly setting off; a favorite and ever-recurring theme of discourse, thought, or effort; that which occupies one's attention unduly, or to the weariness of others; a ruling passion. [Usually under the form hobby.] [1913 Webster]
- Not one of them has any hobbyhorse, to use the phrase of Sterne. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'hobbyhorse'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- agate,
- avocation,
- ball,
- baseball bat,
- bat,
- battledore,
- bauble,
- blocks,
- by-line,
- checkerboard,
- chessboard,
- club,
- cockhorse,
- cricket bat,
- cue,
- doll,
- doll carriage,
- gewgaw,
- gimcrack,
- golf club,
- hobby,
- jack-in-the-box,
- jacks,
- jackstones,
- jackstraws,
- kickshaw,
- knickknack,
- marble,
- marionette,
- mig,
- paper doll,
- pastime,
- pick-up sticks,
- pinwheel,
- plaything,
- puppet,
- racket,
- rag doll,
- rocking horse,
- side interest,
- sideline,
- spare-time activity,
- sport,
- steelie,
- taw,
- teetotum,
- top,
- toy,
- toy soldier,
- trinket,
- whim-wham