Word of the Day

Thursday, April 06, 2006

hobbledehoy

\HOB-uhl-dee-hoy\ , noun;

An awkward, gawky young fellow.

Read the full entry|See synonyms|Comment on today's word

Quotes:

For early on, girls become aware -- as much from their fathers' anguished bellows of "You're not going out dressed like that, Miss" as from the buffoonish reactions of the spotty hobbledehoys at the end-of-term disco -- of the power of clothes to seduce.

-- Jane Shilling, "Soft-centred punk", Times (London), October 27, 2000

His memories, even only reveries, of incomparable women, made me feel like a hulking hobbledehoy.

-- Edith Anderson, Love in Exile

Unfortunately, they have to contend with ignorant hobbledehoys who, on seeing these rows of shingle heaps, feel compelled to jump on them.

-- Susan Campbell, "He grows seakale on the seashore", Daily Telegraph, March 27, 1999

Origin:

The origin of hobbledehoy is unknown, though it perhaps derives from hobble, from the awkward movements of a clumsy adolescent.