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 |