Navigation
Home
Resources
Irregular verbs quizzes English conjugator English-French dictionary French dictionary English dictionary Monolingual dictionaries Scores by institution Free sample tests FAQ Pricing Tourism training Blog Videos
Login Sign up
Blog
Videos
Pricing
FR EN

hobble

noun, verb — 9 senses

hobble

noun

/ˈhɒbəl/

Etymology From Middle English hobblen, hobelen, akin to Middle Dutch hoblen, hobbelen (Modern Dutch hobbelen).

1

In plural One of the short straps tied between the legs of unfenced horses, allowing them to wander short distances but preventing them from running off.

2

An unsteady, off-balance step.

  • We made it and we hobbled up the stairs. Or I hobbled. My sons didn't hobble, I hobbled.2017, Sam Shepard, chapter 37, in Spy of the First Person, →ISBN, page 82:
3

Archaic, Informal A difficult situation; a scrape.

  • "Saddle a horse—any horse—only let him be sure and fleet," cried Ashwoode, "and I'll pay you his price thrice over!" "Well, it's a bargain," replied the groom, promptly; "I don't like to see a gentleman caught in a hobble, if I can help him out of it. […]1845, Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, The Cock and Anchor:
4

Newfoundland, UK, Dialectal An odd job; a piece of casual work.

Synonyms
tether

hobble

verb

Etymology From Middle English hobblen, hobelen, akin to Middle Dutch hoblen, hobbelen (Modern Dutch hobbelen).

1

To fetter by tying the legs; to restrict (a horse) with hobbles.

  • Near-synonyms: shackle, enshackle
  • you hobble your old horse and turn him grazing1865, Charles Dickens, Doctor Marigold:
2

To walk lame, or unevenly.

  • The friar was hobbling the same way too.1681, John Dryden, The Spanish Fryar: Or, the Double Discovery. […], London: […] Richard Tonson and Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, (please specify the page number):
  • Pepa runs all over Madrid in high heels and tube skirts that make her hobble and give the impression of restraining a naturally energetic woman.1988 December 25, Michael Bronski, “Passion Statement”, in Gay Community News, volume 16, number 24, page 11:
3

Figuratively To move or proceed roughly or irregularly.

  • The hobbling versification, the mean diction.1815, William Wordsworth, The White Doe of Rylstone:
4

To disable; to impede.

  • Near-synonyms: nobble, hamper, hinder, embarrass
5

UK, Obsolete, Slang To commit (a person) for trial.

  • […] hobbled straightaway!" "Hobbled, Gibbon?" inquired Lady Bligh. "Taken up and committed for trial, my lady."1978, Gail Clark, Dulcie Bligh (page 99)
Derived terms
chain hobble, hobblebush, hobble-bush, hobble-chain, hobble chain, hobble knot, hobblerope, hobble-rope, hobble rope, hobble skirt, hobble-skirted, hobblesome, hobblingly, hobbly, unhobble

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.

Learn more