Thanks to Trollope

[poliphilo]

I now know that the  mid-Victorian word for "geek" is "hobbledehoy". 

Comments

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

Interesting. What was the actual context? I always thought "hobbledehoy" was more like "yob" or "country bumpkin" and implied stupidity and clumsiness.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

The character so designated is Johnny Eames in The Small House at Allington- an awkward, naive, inexperienced but not unintelligent young clerk in a government office. He loves Lily Dale but can't declare himself and meanwhile gets entangled with a predatory older woman.