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.