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Webster 1913 Edition

Hobble

Hob′ble

,
Verb.
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.
The friar was
hobbling
the same way too.
Dryden.
2.
To move roughly or irregularly; – said of style in writing.
Prior.
The
hobbling
versification, the mean diction.
Jeffreys.

Hob′ble

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To fetter by tying the legs; to hopple; to clog.
“ They hobbled their horses.”
Dickens
2.
To perplex; to embarrass.

Hob′ble

,
Noun.
1.
An unequal gait; a limp; a halt;
as, he has a
hobble
in his gait
.
Swift.
2.
Same as
Hopple
.
3.
Difficulty; perplexity; embarrassment.
Waterton.

Webster 1828 Edition

Hobble

HOB'BLE

, v.i.
1.
To walk lamely, bearing chiefly on one leg; to limp; to walk with a hitch or hop, or with crutches.
The friar was hobbling the same way too.
2.
To walk awkwardly, as when the feet are encumbered with a clog, or with fetters.
3.
To move roughly or irregularly, as verse.
While you Pindaric truths rehearse,
She hobbles in alternate verse.

HOB'BLE

,
Verb.
T.
To perplex. [Not in use.]

HOB'BLE

,
Noun.
An unequal halting gait; an encumbered awkward step.
He has a hobble in his gait.
1.
Difficulty; perplexity.

Definition 2025

hobble

hobble

English

Noun

hobble ‎(plural hobbles) (usually in plural)

  1. 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.

Synonyms

Translations

Verb

hobble ‎(third-person singular simple present hobbles, present participle hobbling, simple past and past participle hobbled)

  1. To fetter by tying the legs; to restrict (a horse) with hobbles.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Charles Dickens to this entry?)
  2. To walk lame, or unevenly.
    • Dryden
      The friar was hobbling the same way too.
  3. (figuratively) To move roughly or irregularly.
    • Jeffreys
      The hobbling versification, the mean diction.
  4. To perplex; to embarrass.

Translations

Derived terms

Pronunciation

  • Rhymes: -ɒbəl

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