Hob"ble (?), n. i. [imp. & p. p. Hobbled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Hobbling (?).] [OE. hobelen, hoblen, freq. of hoppen to hop; akin to D. hobbelen, hoblen, hoppeln. See Hop to jump, and cf. Hopple ]

1.

To walk lame, bearing chiefly on one leg; to walk with a hitch or hop, or with crutches.

The friar was hobbling the same way too. Dryden.

2.

To move roughly or irregularly; -- said of style in writing.

Prior.

The hobbling versification, the mean diction. Jeffreys.

 

© Webster 1913.


Hob"ble, v. t.

1.

To fetter by tying the legs; to hopple; to clog.

" They hobbled their horses."

Dickens

2.

To perplex; to embarrass.

 

© Webster 1913.


Hob"ble, n.

1.

An unequal gait; a limp; a halt; as, he has a hobble in his gait.

Swift.

2.

Same as Hopple.

3.

Difficulty; perplexity; embarrassment.

Waterton.

 

© Webster 1913.