subs. (old).—A countryman. For synonyms, see JOSKIN.
c. 1620. BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, Women Pleased, ii., 6. The HOB-NAIL thy husband ’s as fitly out o’ the way now.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. HOBNAIL. A country clodhopper: from the shoes of country farmers and ploughmen being commonly stuck full of HOB NAILS, and even often clouted, or tipped with iron.
