Hobson-Jobson
noun
Hob·son-Job·son
¦häbsən¦jäbsən
plural -s
: assimilation of the sounds of a word or words foreign to a language into the sounds of a word or words coined or already existent in the language (as Spanish cucaracha has become English cockroach or as English riding coat has become French redingote)
the law of Hobson-Jobson has played a great role in the evolution of surnames
R. F. Barton
compare folk etymology R. F. Barton
Word History
Etymology
Anglo-Indian modification (influenced by the English surnames Hobson and Jobson) of Arabic yā Ḥasan! yā Ḥusayn! O Hasan! O Husain! (cry repeated at the Muharram festival as an expression of mourning for Hasan and Husain, grandsons of Muhammad, killed in the early struggles between the Sunni and Shiʽa parties)
- postmodern
- postmodernism
- postmodernisms
- postmodernist
- postmodernists
- postmodernity
- postmortem
- postmortem dividend
- postmortem examination
- postmortem examinations
- postmortems
- postnaris
- postnasal drip
- postnatal
- postnatally
- postnate
- postnati
- postnatus
- postneonatal
- postnotum
- postnuclear
- postnuptial
- postnuptial agreement
- postnuptial contract
- postnuptial settlement