Hobble

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
hobble
    n 1: a shackle for the ankles or feet [syn: {fetter}, {hobble}]
    2: the uneven manner of walking that results from an injured leg
       [syn: {hitch}, {hobble}, {limp}]
    v 1: walk impeded by some physical limitation or injury; "The
         old woman hobbles down to the store every day" [syn:
         {limp}, {gimp}, {hobble}, {hitch}]
    2: hamper the action or progress of; "The chairman was hobbled
       by the all-powerful dean"
    3: strap the foreleg and hind leg together on each side (of a
       horse) in order to keep the legs on the same side moving in
       unison; "hobble race horses" [syn: {hopple}, {hobble}]
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Hobble \Hob"ble\, v. 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.
      [1913 Webster]

            The friar was hobbling the same way too. --Dryden.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To move roughly or irregularly; -- said of style in
      writing. --Prior.
      [1913 Webster]

            The hobbling versification, the mean diction.
                                                  --Jeffreys.
      [1913 Webster]
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Hobble \Hob"ble\, v. t.
   1. To fetter by tying the legs; to hopple; to clog. " They
      hobbled their horses." --Dickens
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To perplex; to embarrass.
      [1913 Webster]
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Hobble \Hob"ble\, n.
   1. An unequal gait; a limp; a halt; as, he has a hobble in
      his gait. --Swift.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Same as {Hopple}.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Difficulty; perplexity; embarrassment. --Waterton.
      [1913 Webster]
    
from Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
234 Moby Thesaurus words for "hobble":
      amble, anchor, andante, barge, bind, bowl along, bridle, bundle,
      burden, castrate, chain, claudicate, claudication, clog, clump,
      clutch, complication, cramp, crawl, creep, cripple, crunch, cumber,
      curb, dead march, deflate, disable, disarm, dodder, dogtrot, drag,
      drag along, drag out, droop, emasculate, embarrass,
      embarrassing position, embarrassment, enchain, encumber, enmesh,
      ensnarl, entangle, entoil, entrammel, entrap, entwine, falter,
      fasten, fetter, fine how-do-you-do, flounce, foot, footpace,
      footslog, funeral march, gag, gait, gallop, go dead slow, go slow,
      gyve, halt, hamper, hamstring, handcuff, handicap, hell to pay,
      hinder, hippety-hop, hitch, hog-tie, hop, hopple, hot water,
      how-do-you-do, idle, imbroglio, impede, incapacitate, inch,
      inch along, involve, jam, jog, jog trot, jog-trot, jolt, jump,
      knock out, lame, lash, laze, leash, leisurely gait, lime, limp,
      lock step, lumber, lumbering pace, lunge, lurch, maim, make fast,
      manacle, mess, mince, mincing steps, mix, moor, morass, mosey,
      muzzle, net, pace, paddle, paralyze, parlous straits, pass, peg,
      peg down, piaffe, piaffer, picket, pickle, pin down, pinch, pinion,
      plight, plod, poke, poke along, prance, predicament, press down,
      pretty pass, pretty pickle, pretty predicament, prostrate,
      put in irons, quagmire, quicksand, rack, reel, restrain, restrict,
      roll, rope, saddle with, sashay, saunter, scrape, scuff, scuffle,
      scuttle, secure, shackle, shamble, shuffle, shuffle along, sidle,
      silence, single-foot, skip, slink, slither, slog, slouch, slough,
      slow march, slow motion, slowness, snarl, spot, squeeze, stagger,
      stagger along, stalk, stamp, step, stew, sticky wicket, stomp,
      straddle, straggle, strait, straitjacket, straits, strangle, strap,
      stride, stroll, strolling gait, strut, stumble, stump, swagger,
      swamp, swing, tangle, tether, throttle, tie, tie down, tie up,
      tight spot, tight squeeze, tightrope, tittup, toddle, toddle along,
      toil, totter, totter along, traipse, trammel, tread, tricky spot,
      trip, trot, trudge, truss up, unholy mess, velocity, waddle, walk,
      wamble, weave, weigh down, wiggle, wing, wobble, worm,
      worm along

    

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