Hobble
/ˈhɒb.əl/noun
To walk with difficulty, especially because of injury or a physical problem.
Did you know?Hobble is probably related to older Germanic words for limping or shaking, and it later gave rise to the idea of hobbling an animal by tying its legs together — language turning movement into control.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
hoppian
“to hop, leap, or move with short jumps”
Middle English
ME
hoblen / hobelen
“to move unsteadily or with a limp”
Early Modern English
English
hobble
“to walk awkwardly or with difficulty”
Modern English
English
hobble
“to walk with difficulty; also, to restrain by tying the legs or otherwise limiting movement”