hobby1

 
Pronunciation: /ˈhɒbi/

noun (plural hobbies)

  • 1an activity done regularly in one’s leisure time for pleasure: her hobbies are reading and gardening
  • 2 archaic a small horse or pony.

Origin:

late Middle English hobyn, hoby, from pet forms of the given name Robin. Originally in hobby1 (sense 2) (compare with dobbin), it later came to denote a toy horse or hobby horse, hence 'an activity done for pleasure'