v.
Pronunciation: ' hä-b ə l
Function: verb
Inflected Form: hob · bled ; hob · bling \ -b( ə -)li ŋ \
Etymology: Middle English hoblen; akin to Middle Dutch hobbelen to turn, roll
Date: 14th century
intransitive verb : to move along unsteadily or with difficulty especially : to limp along
transitive verb
1 : to cause to limp : make lame : CRIPPLE
2 [probably alteration of hopple to hobble] a : to fasten together the legs of (as a horse) to prevent straying : FETTER b : to place under handicap : HAMPER , IMPEDE
– hob · bler \ -b( ə -)l ə r \ noun