hobble

[ hob-uhl ]

verb (used without object)

, hob·bled, hob·bling.

1. to walk lamely; limp.
2. to proceed irregularly and haltingly:

   His verses hobble with their faulty meters.

verb (used with object)

, hob·bled, hob·bling.

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

/ 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)

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

Derived Forms

• ˈhobbler, noun

Other Words From

• hobbler noun
• un·hobbled adjective
• un·hobbling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hobble¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of hobble¹

C14: probably from Low German; compare Flemish hoppelen, Middle Dutch hobbelen to stammer

Example Sentences

This has long been a point of contention, but removing this funding would likely hobble the agency.

From Salon

He knows that Democrats would have done more, if not hobbled by Republicans who control the House.

From Salon

Some argue that allowing a dysfunctional government to hobble on for another year would have led to more instability and deadlock.

From BBC

The Cowboys are hobbled and humbled, having lost three in a row.

From Los Angeles Times

Davis hobbled after a couple of awkward landings on his left foot, falling to the ground and forcing the Lakers to call timeout midway through the fourth quarter.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• falter
• halt
• shuffle
• stagger
• stumble