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What is the difference between avocation and hobby?

avocation | hobby |

Hobby is a synonym of avocation.



As nouns the difference between avocation and hobby

is that avocation is a calling away; a diversion while hobby is an activity that one enjoys doing in one's spare time.

As a proper noun Hobby is

{{surname|A=An|English|from=given names}.

avocation

English

(wikipedia avocation)

Noun

(en noun)
  • (obsolete) A calling away; a diversion.
  • * 1749 , Henry Fielding, Tom Jones , Folio Society 1973, p. 204:
    • But though she could neither sleep nor rest in her bed, yet, having no avocation from it, she was found there by her father at his return from Allworthy's, which was not till past ten o'clock in the morning.
  • A hobby or recreational or leisure pursuit.
  • * 1934 , Robert Frost, Two Tramps in Mud Time
  • *:But yield who will to their separation,
  • *:My object in living is to unite
  • *:My avocation and my vocation
  • *:As my two eyes make one in sight.
  • That which calls one away from one's regular employment or vocation.
  • Pursuits; duties; affairs which occupy one's time; usual employment; vocation.

    • See also

    * volunteerism

    hobby

    English

    Etymology 1

    Shortened from (hobby-horse), from (etyl) hoby, hobyn, . The meaning of hobby-horse shifted from "small horse, pony" to "child's toy riding horse" to "favorite pastime or avocation" with the connecting notion being "activity that doesn't go anywhere". Possibly originally from a proper name for a horse, a diminutive of (Robert) or (Robin) (compare (dobbin)).

    Noun

    (wikipedia hobby) (hobbies)
  • An activity that one enjoys doing in one's spare time.
    • I like to collect stamps from different countries as a hobby .
  • (horses) An extinct breed of horse native to the British Isles, also known as the
    • Synonyms
    * (activity done for enjoyment in spare time ): avocation, pastime
    Derived terms
    * hobbyist
    Related terms
    * hobbyhorse * hobelar/hobeler

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) hobet, from , diminutive of (hobe).

    Noun

    (hobbies)
  • Any of four species of small falcons in the genus Falco'', especially ''Falco subbuteo .
  • * 2011 , Thomas Penn, Winter King , Penguin 2012, p. 323:
    • He hawked – from nearby Esher, Richard Fox sent a servant with a hobby , which Henry received enthusiastically – and hunted, sending a present of freshly slaughtered deer to Princess Mary.
    Derived terms
    * (African hobby), Falco cuvierii * (Australian hobby), Falco longipennis * (Eurasian hobby), Falco subbuteo * (Oriental hobby), Falco severus