OK, I’m stumped. What’s the difference between a goblin and a hobgoblin?
For that matter, what does ‘hob’ mean, as in the type of cookies: Hob-nobs?
Hob is a nickname for Robin.
From here:
In the 17th century, Robin Goodfellow was one of the most popular faeries in literature. Several ballads were in print. Shakespeare said Robin Goodfellow was one of the many names for Puck, the trickster faerie and sometimes devil.
Which brings us to here:
\Hob"gob`lin, n. [See 2d Hob, and Goblin.] A frightful goblin; an imp; a bugaboo; also, a name formerly given to the household spirit, Robin Goodfellow. --Macaulay.
Which brings us to goblin.
(On preview I see that daffyduck has partially beaten me to it, but I will keep my entire post anyway 
)
To start, Webster says a goblin is “an ugly or grotesque sprite that is mischievous and sometimes evil and malicious,” while a hobgoblin is “a mischievous goblin.” Those definitions seem identical, but I think the idea is that a goblin is evil/malicious while a hobgoblin is mischievous.
Next, my Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology has this entry for “hob:”
There is a second “hob,” as well:
I’m not sure which “hob” would be right for the cookie. 
(On second preview: curse you, Chairman Pow! )
According to D&D 3.5 Rules - about 1 hit point. I’m dumbstruck that goblins are LA 0 and Hobgoblins are LA +1 - really - for 1 measly hit point and a few little differences.
Help me, for I am a nerd… 
This page from United Biscuits (the owner of the McVitie’s Hobnobs brand) says
So it looks like “Hobnobs” is a fairly recent term. Or was an existing biscuit/cookie name turned into a trademark by United Biscuits?
It’s far too late for you. You do have good taste in music though…
To hob-nob means to socialise, and the biscuits are probably named with this in mind. The term originally meant to drink to, or toast, another person and the extension to “to socialise” is obvious. The OED’s definition of hob-nob (v):
Actually, by AD&D 2nd ed. rules hobgoblins are worth 15 more experience points, too. Rummages in dice bag C’mon natutral twenty…
Yeah, they had, on average 2 more hit points, didn’t they? I think they also tended to go for bigger weapons.
Hobgoblins get another week off per year, and their health insurance is fully paid.
I’ve read the term “Old Hob” in reference to the devil, as well.
Wasn’t the Hobgoblin the Green Goblin’s son?
Thanks, Chariman!
No. The Hobgoblin was a mercenary that came across an old GG suit and modified it.
You need to watch the SF movie Five Million Years to Earth (AKA Quatermass and the Pit).
Not Five Million Miles to Earth. That’s a Harryhausen film, and won’t help you with Hobbe’s Lane.