hobby-horse

Noun

hobby horse (plural hobby horses)

1. (originally) The Irish Hobby, an extinct breed of horse.
2. A child's toy consisting of a (usually wooden or cloth) horse's head mounted on a stick.
3. (figuratively) A topic that elicits a prolonged and enthusiastic discussion from an individual.
   • Don't ask him about global warming: it's his favourite hobby horse, you'll never get away.
4. A puppetlike costume used in some traditional dances and festivals that gives its wearer the appearance of a man on horseback.
5. (historical) An early bicycle with no pedals or brakes.
   • British users rechristened the baron's invention the hobby horse then the dandy horse, because draisines became very fashionable with Regency gentlemen.2015, Chris Boardman, The Biography of the Modern Bike: The Ultimate History of Bike Design, Hachette, →ISBN, page 10

   Synonyms:

   dandy horse, draisienne

See all 6 meanings of hobby horse