By 1816 the derivative, "hobby", was introduced into the vocabulary of a number of English people. It was designed for a child to mimic riding a real horse. The item, originally called a "Tourney Horse", was made of a wooden or basketwork frame with an artificial tail and head. The term " hobby horse" was documented in a 1557 payment confirmation for a "Hobbyhorse" from Reading, England. In the 16th century, the term "hobyn" had the meaning of "small horse and pony". Writing and editing articles for Wikipedia is a hobby for some people. Hobbyists may be identified under three sub-categories: casual leisure which is intrinsically rewarding, short-lived, pleasurable activity requiring little or no preparation, serious leisure which is the systematic pursuit of an amateur, hobbyist, or volunteer that is substantial, rewarding and results in a sense of accomplishment, and finally project-based leisure which is a short-term, often one-off, project that is rewarding.
Because of this, the efforts of people investing in hobbies has increased with time. The advancing production and technology of the nineteenth century provided workers with more leisure time to engage in hobbies. Hobbies tend to follow trends in society, for example stamp collecting was popular during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries as postal systems were the main means of communication, while video games are more popular nowadays following technological advances. A list of hobbies changes with renewed interests and developing fashions, making it diverse and lengthy. Participation in hobbies encourages acquiring substantial skills and knowledge in that area. Hobbies include collecting themed items and objects, engaging in creative and artistic pursuits, playing sports, or pursuing other amusements. In Tristram Shandy, the term "hobby-horse" was used to refer to whimsical obsessions, which led to the current use of the word "hobby"Ī hobby is considered to be a regular activity that is done for enjoyment, typically during one's leisure time.