different between scamper vs hobble

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?skæmp?/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?skæmp?/
• Rhymes: -æmp?(r)

Etymology 1

First attested in 1687. Origin uncertain, but possibly from Dutch schamperen, from Old French escamper, from Italian scampare (“to run away”).

Noun

scamper (plural scampers)

1. A quick, light run.

Verb

scamper (third-person singular simple present scampers, present participle scampering, simple past and past participle scampered)

1. (intransitive) To run quickly and lightly, especially in a playful or undignified manner.

   The dog scampered after the squirrel.

   • 1912: Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tarzan of the Apes, Chapter 1

     The younger and lighter members of his tribe scampered to the higher branches of the great trees to escape his wrath; risking their lives upon branches that scarce supported their weight rather than face old Kerchak in one of his fits of uncontrolled anger.

Synonyms

• scurry
• See also Thesaurus:walk

Translations

Etymology 2

scamp +? -er

Noun

scamper (plural scampers)

1. One who skimps or does slipshod work.

   Synonym: skimper

Anagrams

• Campers, campers

English

Etymology

From Middle English hobblen, hobelen, akin to Middle Dutch hoblen, hobbelen (Modern Dutch hobbelen).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?h?b?l/
• Rhymes: -?b?l

Noun

hobble (plural hobbles)

1. (chiefly in the plural) One of the short straps tied between the legs of unfenced horses, allowing them to wander short distances but preventing them from running off.
2. An unsteady, off-balance step.
3. A difficult situation; a scrape.
4. (dialect, Britain and Newfoundland) An odd job; a piece of casual work.

Synonyms

• tether (rope)

Translations

Verb

hobble (third-person singular simple present hobbles, present participle hobbling, simple past and past participle hobbled)

1. To fetter by tying the legs; to restrict (a horse) with hobbles.
   • 1865, Charles Dickens, Doctor Marigold

     you hobble your old horse and turn him grazing

2. To walk lame, or unevenly.

   • The friar was hobbling the same way too.

3. (figuratively) To move roughly or irregularly.
   • 1815, William Wordsworth, The White Doe of Rylstone

     The hobbling versification, the mean diction.

4. To perplex; to embarrass.

Synonyms

• (walk unevenly): hirple

Derived terms

• hobble skirt
• hobbly
• unhobble

Translations

Anagrams

• hobbel