HINNEY, MY HONEY. A north country hinney, particularly
a Northumbrian: in that county, hinney is the general
term of endearment.
HISTORY OF THE FOUR KINGS, or CHILD'S BEST GUIDE TO
THE GALLOWS. A pack of cards. He studies the history
of the four kings assiduously; he plays much at cards.
HOAXING. Bantering, ridiculing. Hoaxing a quiz; joking
an odd fellow. UNIVERSITY WIT.
HOB, or HOBBINOL, a clown.
HOB OR NOB. Will you hob or nob with me? a question formerly in fashion at polite tables, signifying a request or challenge to drink a glass of wine with the proposer: if the party challenged answered Nob, they were to chuse whether white or red. This foolish custom is said to have originated in the days of good queen Bess, thus: when great chimnies were in fashion, there was at each corner of the hearth, or grate, a small elevated projection, called the hob; and behind it a seat. In winter time the beer was placed on the hob to warm: and the cold beer was set on a small table, said to have been called the nob; so that the question, Will you have hob or nob? seems only to have meant, Will you have warm or cold beer? i.e. beer from the hob, or beer from the nob.
HOBBERDEHOY. Half a man and half a boy, a lad between
both.
HOBBLED. Impeded, interrupted, puzzled. To hobble;
to walk lamely.
HOBBLEDYGEE. A pace between a walk and a run, a dog-trot.
HOBBY. Sir Posthumous's hobby; one nice or whimsical in his clothes.
HOBBY HORSE. A man's favourite amusement, or study, is called his hobby horse. It also means a particular kind of small Irish horse: and also a wooden one, such as is given to children.