hobble

Noun · Verb
Synonyms: fetterhitchlimpgimphopple

WordNet 3.0

Noun (2)

  1. a shackle for the ankles or feetSynonyms: fetter
  2. the uneven manner of walking that results from an injured legSynonyms: hitchlimp

Verb (3)

  1. walk impeded by some physical limitation or injury“The old woman hobbles down to the store every day”Synonyms: limpgimphitch
  2. hamper the action or progress of“The chairman was hobbled by the all-powerful dean”
  3. strap the foreleg and hind leg together on each side (of a horse) in order to keep the legs on the same side moving in unison“hobble race horses”Synonyms: hopple
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Hobble \Hob"ble\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Hobbled; p. pr. & vb. n. Hobbling.] [OE. hobelen, hoblen, freq. of hoppen to hop; akin to D. hobbelen, hoblen, hoppeln. See Hop to jump, and cf. Hopple ]

1.To walk lame, bearing chiefly on one leg; to walk with a hitch or hop, or with crutches. [1913 Webster]

The friar was hobbling the same way too.— Dryden.[1913 Webster]

2.To move roughly or irregularly; -- said of style in writing. --Prior. [1913 Webster]

The hobbling versification, the mean diction.— Jeffreys.[1913 Webster]
Hobble \Hob"ble\, v. t.

1.To fetter by tying the legs; to hopple; to clog. " They hobbled their horses." --Dickens [1913 Webster]

2.To perplex; to embarrass. [1913 Webster]

Hobble \Hob"ble\, n.

1.An unequal gait; a limp; a halt; as, he has a hobble in his gait. --Swift. [1913 Webster]

2.Same as Hopple. [1913 Webster]

3.Difficulty; perplexity; embarrassment. --Waterton. [1913 Webster]

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