I. ˈhäbəl verb
( hobbled ; hobbled ; hobbling -b(ə)liŋ ; hobbles )
Etymology: Middle English hoblen; akin to Middle Dutch hobbelen to turn, roll
intransitive verb
1. : to move along unsteadily or with great difficulty or uncertainty : advance waveringly or laboriously or painfully : limp along : move lamely : struggle along
the crippled ship managed to hobble into port
try to hobble along to the end of the school term
specifically : to walk with a halting labored typically up-and-down movement often marked by lurching or wobbling
saw an old man hobbling down the street
hobbling along on his crutches
2. of an arrow : to wobble in flight
transitive verb
1. : to cause to hobble : make lame : cripple
was hobbled by an ankle injury
2.
[probably alteration of hopple ]
a. : to tie or otherwise fasten together the legs of (as a horse) to prevent straying or to keep under control : fetter
hobbled the horses before turning them loose
b. : to interfere with the free movement or advance of : hamper , obstruct , impede
felt himself hobbled by his parents' lack of understanding
hobbling factory production by inefficient methods
II. noun
( -s )
1. : a hobbling movement or hobbling manner of walking
had a bad hobble — Adrian Bell
2. archaic : an awkward or perplexing situation
3.
a. : something used for tying the legs (as of a horse) especially to prevent straying : fetter
b. : something that restrains or hampers
censorship and other hobbles of free expression
4. : hobble skirt