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hobbledehoy

C2+ Topic:People & Society
US /ˈhɑː.bəl.diˌhɔɪ/ UK /ˌhɒb.əl.diˈhɔɪ/
Freq #217802

Meanings

  1. 1

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 noun · an awkward, gawky, or... gawky youthloutawkward adolescent
Word family
Forms hobbledehoys
Derived forms hobbledehoyhoodhobbledehoyish
Related forms adolescentstriplinglout

Etymology

Recorded in the sixteenth century in shifting forms such as hobberdehoy and hobbard de hoy. Its origin is uncertain; the modern spelling was probably reshaped under the influence of hobble, suggesting awkward movement. The word is now archaic or humorous.

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