Hobble
noun, verb, slang ·Common ·Middle school level
Definitions
- 1 One of the short straps tied between the legs of unfenced horses, allowing them to wander short distances but preventing them from running off. in-plural
- 2 the uneven manner of walking that results from an injured leg wordnet
- 3 An unsteady, off-balance step.
"We made it and we hobbled up the stairs. Or I hobbled. My sons didn't hobble, I hobbled."
- 4 a shackle for the ankles or feet wordnet
- 5 A difficult situation; a scrape. archaic, informal
""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. […]"
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- 6 An odd job; a piece of casual work. Newfoundland, UK, dialectal
- 1 To fetter by tying the legs; to restrict (a horse) with hobbles.
"Near-synonyms: shackle, enshackle"
- 2 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 wordnet
- 3 To walk lame, or unevenly.
"The friar was hobbling the same way too."
- 4 walk impeded by some physical limitation or injury wordnet
- 5 To move or proceed roughly or irregularly. figuratively
"The hobbling versification, the mean diction."
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- 6 hamper the action or progress of wordnet
- 7 To disable; to impede.
"Near-synonyms: nobble, hamper, hinder, embarrass"
Antonyms
All antonymsExample
More examples"Tom took heart and, sure enough, on New Year's Eve he was able to hobble along to a party."
Etymology
From Middle English hobblen, hobelen, akin to Middle Dutch hoblen, hobbelen (Modern Dutch hobbelen).