Hobson Jobson etymology

Etymology:

Hobson-Jobson is a term used to describe a glossary or dictionary of Anglo-Indian words and phrases. It is most commonly associated with the "Hobson-Jobson: A Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian Words and Phrases, and of Kindred Terms, Etymological, Historical, Geographical and Discursive" by Henry Yule and Arthur Coke Burnell.

The term "Hobson-Jobson" is derived from two sources:

• Hobson: The surname of Thomas Hobson, a 17th-century livery stable keeper from Cambridge, England. Hobson was known for having only one business policy - customers could take any horse they wanted, but they had to take the one closest to the stable door.
• Jobson: A variant of the surname "Jacobson," which was a common name among Jewish traders in India during the British colonial period.

Meaning and Origin:

The term "Hobson-Jobson" is used to describe a glossary or dictionary of Anglo-Indian words and phrases that were commonly used by British officials, soldiers, and civilians in India. These words and phrases often had their origins in a variety of languages, including Urdu, Hindi, Persian, Arabic, Portuguese, and English. The glossary was intended to help British personnel understand and communicate effectively with the Indian population.

Yule and Burnell's "Hobson-Jobson" was first published in 1886 and became an essential reference for anyone working in or interested in India. It contains over 40,000 entries, each providing the etymology, meaning, and historical context of the word or phrase. The glossary has been expanded and updated over the years and remains a valuable resource for scholars and enthusiasts of Indian history and culture.

Hobson Jobson relate terms

• babu

  Etymology The word babu is derived from the Persian word bab meaning gatekeeper o

• veranda

  Etymology The word veranda is derived from the Sanskrit word varanda which means a

• typhoon

  Etymology The word typhoon originates from the Greek word typhōn which refers to t

• imperialism

  Etymology Imperialism derives from the Latin word imperium meaning command power r

• giraffe

  Etymology The word giraffe originates from the French word girafe It is believed tha

• congruent

  Etymology Latin congruens present participle of congruere meaning to come toget

• sermon

  Etymology The word sermon is derived from the Latin word sermo which means speech

• bachelor

  Etymology The word bachelor comes from the Old French word bacheler which in turn c

• epiphany

  Etymology From Late Latin epiphania from Greek ἐπιφάνεια epiphaneia meani