/ ˈhɒbl; NAmE ˈhɑːbl/ verb
1.
[ v , usually + adv. / prep. ] to walk with difficulty, especially because your feet or legs hurt
SYN limp :
The old man hobbled across the road.
2.
[ vn ] to tie together two legs of a horse or other animal in order to stop it from running away
3.
[ vn ] to make it more difficult for sb to do sth or for sth to happen
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : probably of Dutch or Low German origin and related to Dutch hobbelen rock from side to side.