Hippogryph. A mythical animal represented as a winged horse with the head of a gryphon.
Hippopera, Gr. and R. (ἱππο-πήρα). A saddle-bag for travellers on horseback. (See Ascopera.)
Hippotoxotes (ἱππο-τοξότης). A mounted archer. The Syrians, Persians, Medes, Greeks, and Romans had mounted archers among their light cavalry.
Histrio. An actor. The Greek dramas were originally represented on the stage by one performer, who represented in succession the different characters. Æschylus introduced a second and a third actor. The actors were all amateurs, and it was not until a later period that the histrionic profession became a speciality. Sophocles and Æschylus both probably acted their own plays. The Roman name for an actor, histrio, was formed from the Etruscan hister, a dancer. The earliest histriones were dancers, and performed to the music of a flute; then Roman youths imitating them introduced jocular dialogue, and this was the origin of the drama. After the organization of the theatres, the histriones were subjected to certain disabilities; they were a despised class, and excluded from the rights of citizenship. The greatest of histriones in Rome were Roscius and Æsopus, who realized great fortunes by their acting.
Hobelarii, Med. Lat. (See Hoblers.)
Hoblers, A.S. Feudal tenants bound to serve as light horsemen in times of invasion.
Hob-nob, O. E. (Saxon habban, to have; næbban, not to have). “Hit or miss;” hence a common invitation to reciprocal drinking.
Hock-day, Hoke-day, or Hock Tuesday. A holiday kept to commemorate the expulsion of the Danes. It was held on the second Tuesday after Easter. Hocking consisted in stopping the highway with ropes, and taking toll of passers-by.
Hocus-pocus. Probably a profane corruption of the words hoc est corpus used in the Latin mass.
Holocaust. A sacrifice entirely consumed by fire.