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nobble

[nob-uh l]
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verb (used with object), nob·bled, nob·bling. British Slang.

to drug or disable (a race horse) to prevent its winning a race.
to convince (a person) by fraudulent methods; misrepresent or lie to.
to swindle; defraud.
to seize (a person); hold for arrest.

Origin of nobble

1840–50; back formation from nobbler, variant of hobbler (dial. phrase an 'obbler being taken as a nobbler)
Related formsnob·bler, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for nobble

Historical Examples of nobble

  • We don't mean to lose this match, nor don't mean to let you nobble us.

  • I allus said any fool can be a smith but it takes a good man to nobble.

  • Here they stayed but a few hours and then went on by coach on their journey to Nobble.

    John Caldigate

    Anthony Trollope

  • Nobble they thought was the foulest place which they had ever seen.

    John Caldigate

    Anthony Trollope

  • It seemed that Crinkett was very well known in Nobble indeed.

    John Caldigate

    Anthony Trollope

British Dictionary definitions for nobble

nobble

verb (tr) British slang

to disable (a racehorse), esp with drugs
to win over or outwit (a person) by underhand means
to suborn (a person, esp a juror) by threats, bribery, etc
to steal; filch
to get hold of; grab
to kidnap
Derived Formsnobbler, noun

Word Origin for nobble

C19: back formation from nobbler, from false division of an hobbler (one who hobbles horses) as a nobbler
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012