what is hobbling
Meaning to walk lamely is from c.1400. Transitive sense of tie the legs (of an animal) first recorded 1831, probably an alteration of 16c. hopple, cognate with Flemish hoppelen to rock, jump, which also is related to Dutch hobbelen. Sense of hamper, hinder is c.1870. Related: Hobbled; hobbling. The noun is 1727, from the verb.