To hobble means to walk with difficulty, usually taking small, uneven steps because of pain or injury. After twisting his ankle during soccer practice, Marcus had to hobble off the field, putting most of his weight on his good leg. Someone recovering from knee surgery might hobble around the house for a few weeks, moving carefully and slowly.

The word captures that awkward, limping movement where each step takes effort. You might see a character in a movie hobbling away from danger, or watch a horse hobble because of a stone stuck in its hoof.

Hobble can also mean to restrict or hold back, like putting obstacles in someone's way. A teacher might worry that too many rules could hobble students' creativity. A country's strict regulations might hobble its businesses, making it harder for them to compete. In this sense, something that hobbles you doesn't physically injure you, but it makes it much harder to move forward or succeed.

Interestingly, a hobble is also a rope or strap tied loosely around a horse's legs to keep it from wandering too far. It lets the horse move a little, but not run away, which connects to both meanings of the word.