# You put the 'Hob' into goblin... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 14, 2004, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-put-the-hob-into-goblin/269139 "2004-10-14T01:42:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-put-the-hob-into-goblin/269139/1 "2004-10-14T01:42:01Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![daffyduck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ec9cab/32.png) [@daffyduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/daffyduck)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-put-the-hob-into-goblin/269139/2 "2004-10-14T02:08:18Z")
Hob is a nickname for Robin. From [here](http://www.boldoutlaw.com/puckrobin/puckbals.html): 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](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=hobgoblin): \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. ---
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-put-the-hob-into-goblin/269139/3 "2004-10-14T02:22:24Z")
> [@daffyduck](#): > > Which brings us to [here](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=hobgoblin): > > \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](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=goblin). > [@](#): > > a frightful phantom ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-put-the-hob-into-goblin/269139/4 "2004-10-14T02:24:47Z")
(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:” > [@](#): > > rustic, clown [14th century]; sprite, elf [15th century]. By-form of _Rob_, short for _Robin_, _Robert_. Hence **hobgoblin** (cf. _Robin Goodfellow_) [16th century] There is a second “hob,” as well: > [@](#): > > side of a grate, perh. orig. back of a grate formed of a mass of clay [16th century] (_hubbe_); peg or pin as a target [16th century] of unkown orig; cf. HUB. Hence **hobnail** [16th century] I’m not sure which “hob” would be right for the cookie. 🙂 (On second preview: curse you, **Chairman Pow**! 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![RevCo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@RevCo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RevCo)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-put-the-hob-into-goblin/269139/5 "2004-10-14T02:57:06Z")
> [@wevets](#): > > OK, I’m stumped. What’s the difference between a goblin and a hobgoblin? 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… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![chukhung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e79b87/32.png) [@chukhung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chukhung)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-put-the-hob-into-goblin/269139/6 "2004-10-14T03:03:10Z")
> [@wevets](#): > > For that matter, what does ‘hob’ mean, as in the type of cookies: Hob-nobs? This [page](http://www.unitedbiscuits.co.uk/80256C1A0047922E/vWeb/pcTSTT5EPGEC) from [United Biscuits](http://www.unitedbiscuits.co.uk) (the owner of the McVitie’s Hobnobs brand) says > [@](#): > > Hobnobs was first launched in 1985 and a milk chocolate variant followed in 1987. The brand is known and loved by millions in the UK. So it looks like “Hobnobs” is a fairly recent term. Or was an existing biscuit/cookie name turned into a trademark by United Biscuits? ---
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-put-the-hob-into-goblin/269139/7 "2004-10-14T04:14:39Z")
> [@RevCo](#): > > Help me, for I am a nerd… 😛 It’s far too late for you. You do have good taste in music though… ---
**Author:** ![Atticus\_Finch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Atticus\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atticus_Finch)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-put-the-hob-into-goblin/269139/8 "2004-10-14T04:38:42Z")
> [@chukhung](#): > > So it looks like “Hobnobs” is a fairly recent term. Or was an existing biscuit/cookie name turned into a trademark by United Biscuits? 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): > [@OED](#): > > 1. intr. To drink to each other, drink together. > > 1763 Brit. Mag. IV. 117 Do I go to hob or nob in white-wine, I am probably told red, is better for my nerves. ---
**Author:** ![Sevo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sevo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevo)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-put-the-hob-into-goblin/269139/9 "2004-10-14T04:55:37Z")
> [@RevCo](#): > > 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… 😛 Actually, by AD&D 2nd ed. rules hobgoblins are worth 15 more experience points, too. **Rummages in dice bag** C’mon natutral twenty… ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-put-the-hob-into-goblin/269139/10 "2004-10-14T14:12:24Z")
> [@Sevo](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-put-the-hob-into-goblin/269139/11 "2004-10-14T14:28:41Z")
Hobgoblins get another week off per year, and their health insurance is fully paid. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-put-the-hob-into-goblin/269139/12 "2004-10-14T16:43:02Z")
I’ve read the term “Old Hob” in reference to the devil, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-put-the-hob-into-goblin/269139/13 "2004-10-14T19:02:14Z")
Wasn’t the Hobgoblin the Green Goblin’s son? ---
**Author:** ![RevCo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@RevCo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RevCo)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-put-the-hob-into-goblin/269139/14 "2004-10-14T20:45:05Z")
> [@Chairman Pow](#): > > It’s far too late for you. You do have good taste in music though… 🆒 Thanks, Chariman! ---
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-put-the-hob-into-goblin/269139/15 "2004-10-14T21:07:05Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > Wasn’t the Hobgoblin the Green Goblin’s son? No. The Hobgoblin was a mercenary that came across an old GG suit and modified it. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-put-the-hob-into-goblin/269139/16 "2004-10-14T23:37:19Z")
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.