HOBBLE

I. verb (~d; hobbling) Etymology: Middle English hoblen; akin to Middle Dutch hobbelen to turn, roll Date: 14th century intransitive verb to move along unsteadily or with difficulty, transitive verb to cause to limp ; make lame ; cripple , 2. \probably alteration of hopple to ~] to fasten together the legs of (as a horse) to prevent straying ; fetter , to place under handicap ; hamper , impede , ~r noun II. noun Date: 1726 a hobbling movement, an awkward situation, something used to ~ an animal