Hip. "Have on the hip" (M. of V. i. 3, Oth. ii. 1) seems to be taken from wrestling, and to signify getting the opponent across one's hip, and thus being able to give him a severe fall.
"To get the Pagan on the hip;
And having caught him right, he doth him lift
By nimble slight, and in such wise doth trip
That down he threw him."
Harr. Or. Fur. xlvi. 117.
Hiren. "Have we not Hiren here?" (2 H. IV. ii. 4). It is a corruption of the Greek proper name of Irene, made by Peele in his play of The Turkish Mahomet and the fair Greek Hiren.
Hob. This, like Bob, Dob, was merely a short form of Robert. It and Dob are still preserved in proper names, as in Hobbs, Hobson. Hob-goblin answers to the German Knecht-Ruprecht.
Hob-nob (Tw. N. iii. 4), is hab-nab, i.e. 'have or no have,' hit or miss.
Hobby-horse (L. L. L. iii. 1, Ham. iii. 2). This was an essential character in the morris-dance. It was the figure of a horse fastened round the waist of a man, whose legs were concealed by the horse's long footcloth, outside of which hung a pair of artificial legs and thighs. The man, of course, gave motion to the horse, prancing about, neighing, etc. It may still be seen at the booths in fairs and at minor theatres. The Puritans were bitter enemies to the Hobby-horse, which was therefore frequently left out, whence the cry of