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plural hobbles
(chiefly in the plural) One of the short straps tied between the legs of unfenced horses, allowing them to wander short distances but preventing them from running off. examples
An unsteady, off-balance step. examples
(archaic, informal) A difficult situation; a scrape. quotations
"Saddle a horse—any horse—only let him be sure and fleet," cried Ashwoode, "and I'll pay you his price thrice over!""Well, it's a bargain," replied the groom, promptly; "I don't like to see a gentleman caught in a hobble, if I can help him out of it. […]
1845, Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, The Cock and Anchor
(dialect, UK and Newfoundland) An odd job; a piece of casual work. examples
third-person singular simple present hobbles, present participle hobbling, simple past and past participle hobbled
To fetter by tying the legs; to restrict (a horse) with hobbles. quotations examples
you hobble your old horse and turn him grazing
1865, Charles Dickens, Doctor Marigold
To walk lame, or unevenly. quotations examples
The friar was hobbling the same way too.
1681, John Dryden, The Spanish Fryar: Or, the Double Discovery. […], London: […] Richard Tonson and Jacob Tonson, […], (please specify the page number)
(figurative) To move roughly or irregularly. quotations examples
The hobbling versification, the mean diction.
1815, William Wordsworth, The White Doe of Rylstone
To perplex; to embarrass. examples