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Glite Dictionary
Hobson-Jobson

Hobson-Jobson

9.9
An English word that comes from an Indian language, or the famous old dictionary that lists such words
  • noun
  • /ˈhɑb.sənˈdʒɑb.sən/
  • Specialized
: Hobson-Jobson
  • Many linguists consult Hobson-Jobson when researching Anglo-Indian words.

Examples

  • The word 'bungalow' is a classic example of a Hobson-Jobson in everyday use.

  • Have you read the Hobson-Jobson dictionary?

  • He wrote a paper on the origins of several Hobson-Jobson terms in English.

  • The term Hobson-Jobson refers to words borrowed from Indian languages.

  • Many linguists consult Hobson-Jobson when researching Anglo-Indian words.

  • The word 'bungalow' is a classic example of a Hobson-Jobson in everyday use.

  • He wrote a paper on the origins of several Hobson-Jobson terms in English.

Synonyms

Indianism
vsHobson-Jobson
  • Indian
8.6

A word or phrase used mainly in India

focuses specifically on English terms that come from Indian languages

Surface Forms

Hobson-Jobson singular
Hobson-Jobsons plural

Etymology

Hobson-Jobson comes from how English ears in India heard the mourning cry 'Ya Hasan! Ya Husain!' and turned it into the sound 'Hobson-Jobson'. The name became the title of a famous book that lists English words from Indian languages, and today Hobson-Jobson means an English word that comes from an Indian language, like bungalow.