hobnob

[ hob-nob ]

/ ˈhɒbˌnɒb /

to associate on very friendly terms (usually followed by with): She often hobnobs with royalty.

Archaic. to drink together.

a friendly, informal chat.

Origin of hobnob

1595–1605; from the phrase hab or nab literally, have or have not, Old English habban to have + nabban not to have ( ne not + habban to have)

And now I am going to shake hands and hobnob with the elite—beautiful word!

The Million Dollar Mystery |Harold MacGrath
Hobnob, hob′nob, adv. have or not have, a familiar invitation to drink.

Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) |Various
Again I am struck by the familiar way in which the Russians hobnob with the Mongols.

A Wayfarer in China |Elizabeth Kendall
You can't certainly if you hobnob with the rival candidate and call him a good fellow.

The Opinions of a Philosopher |Robert Grant

It means you'll have to hobnob with Eurasian clerks and their wives.

East of Suez |William Somerset Maugham

hobnob

/ (ˈhɒbˌnɒb) /

to socialize or talk informally

obsolete to drink (with)

C18: from hob or nob to drink to one another in turns, hence, to be familiar, ultimately from Old English habban to have + nabban not to have