hobble

American  

[hob-uhl] / ˈhɒb əl /

verb (used without object)

hobbled, hobbling

1. to walk lamely; limp.

2. to proceed irregularly and haltingly.

   His verses hobble with their faulty meters.

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verb (used with object)

hobbled, hobbling

1. to cause to limp.

   His tight shoes hobbled him.

2. to fasten together the legs of (a horse, mule, etc.) by short lengths of rope to prevent free motion.

3. to impede; hamper the progress of.

   Synonyms:

   cramp, frustrate, restrict, hinder

   Antonyms:

   benefit, assist, aid

noun

1. an act of hobbling; an uneven, halting gait; a limp.

2. a rope, strap, etc., used to hobble an animal.

3. hobbles, a leg harness for controlling the gait of a pacer.

4. Archaic. an awkward or difficult situation.

hobble British  

/ ˈhɒbəl /

verb

1. (intr) to walk with a lame awkward movement

2. (tr) to fetter the legs of (a horse) in order to restrict movement

3. to progress unevenly or with difficulty

4. (tr) to hamper or restrict (the actions or scope of a person, organization, etc)

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noun

1. a strap, rope, etc, used to hobble a horse

2. a limping gait

3. dialect a difficult or embarrassing situation

4. a castrated ferret

Other Word Forms

• hobbler noun
• unhobbled adjective
• unhobbling adjective

Etymology

Origin of hobble

1300–50; Middle English hobelen, apparently akin to hob protuberance, uneven ground, and to Dutch hobbelen, German hoppeln to jolt

Example Sentences

As Australia began the day on 518-7, Stokes took the ball and would manage only 10 deliveries before hobbling off holding his groin.

From BBC

China is also racing to build domestic alternatives to Nvidia products, which have faced US export restrictions, hobbling the Chinese tech sector.

From Barron's

A crowd of 18,602 at San Antonio's Frost Bank Center had been subdued earlier in the fourth quarter when Wembanyama hobbled off the court following an awkward landing from a rebound.

From Barron's

Huntington Park police released video of three officers approaching Anthony Lowe as he hobbles away.

From Los Angeles Times

The Surrey right-armer hobbled off early on day two of the fourth Test in Melbourne clutching his left leg and took no further part.

From Barron's

Related Words

• falter
• halt
• shuffle
• stagger
• stumble