| 释义 |
hob·ble
I. \ˈhäbəl\ verb
(hobbled ; hobbled ; hobbling \-b(ə)liŋ\ ; hobbles)
Etymology: Middle English hoblen; akin to Middle Dutch hobbelen to turn, roll
intransitive verb
1. : to move along unsteadily or with great difficulty or uncertainty : advance waveringly or laboriously or painfully : limp along : move lamely : struggle along
< the crippled ship managed to hobble into port >
< try to hobble along to the end of the school term >
specifically : to walk with a halting labored typically up-and-down movement often marked by lurching or wobbling
< saw an old man hobbling down the street >
< hobbling along on his crutches >
2. of an arrow : to wobble in flight
transitive verb
1. : to cause to hobble : make lame : cripple
< was hobbled by an ankle injury >
2. [probably alteration of hopple]
a. : to tie or otherwise fasten together the legs of (as a horse) to prevent straying or to keep under control : fetter
< hobbled the horses before turning them loose >
b. : to interfere with the free movement or advance of : hamper, obstruct, impede
< felt himself hobbled by his parents' lack of understanding >
< hobbling factory production by inefficient methods >
II. noun
(-s)
1. : a hobbling movement or hobbling manner of walking
< had a bad hobble — Adrian Bell >
2. archaic : an awkward or perplexing situation
3.
a. : something used for tying the legs (as of a horse) especially to prevent straying : fetter
b. : something that restrains or hampers
< censorship and other hobbles of free expression >
4. : hobble skirt |