— hobbler , n.
/hob"euhl/ , v. , hobbled, hobbling , n.
v.i.
1. to walk lamely; limp.
2. to proceed irregularly and haltingly: His verses hobble with their faulty meters.
v.t.
3. to cause to limp: His tight shoes hobbled him.
4. to fasten together the legs of (a horse, mule, etc.) by short lengths of rope to prevent free motion.
5. to impede; hamper the progress of.
n.
6. an act of hobbling; an uneven, halting gait; a limp.
7. a rope, strap, etc., used to hobble an animal.
8. hobbles , a leg harness for controlling the gait of a pacer.
9. Archaic. an awkward or difficult situation.
[ 1300-50; ME hobelen, appar. akin to hob protuberance, uneven ground, and to D hobbelen, G hoppeln to jolt ]
Syn. 5. hinder, restrict, frustrate, cramp.
Ant. 5. aid, assist, benefit.