▪ I. hopple, v.
(ˈhɒp(ə)l)
[Origin obscure; it is exemplified earlier than hobble v. in same sense, and can hardly be a later variant of that word; rather does the corresp. sense of hobble seem to be taken from hopple. But Kilian has early mod.Fl. hoppelen = MDu. hobelen to jump, dance; and see the German forms mentioned under hobble v.]
trans. To fasten together the legs of (a horse or other beast) to prevent it from straying; also transf. to fetter (a human being); = hobble v. 7.
| 1586 in Scotter Manor Rec. (N.W. Linc. Gloss.), That noe man hoppell noe cattell in the Forthe. 1630 Ibid., That noe man shall leave his horsse or beaste loose in the fallowe feilde but to hoppill tether or bringe him home att night. 1660 H. More Myst. Godl. ix. vii. §8 Superstitiously hoppled in the Toils and Nets of superfluous Opinions. a 1749 T. Chalkley Wks. (1766) 382, I think then he ought to be muzzled and hoppled too. 1807 P. Gass Jrnl. 223 We caught all our horses and hoppled them. 1876 Morris Sigurd i. 26 What of men so hoppled should be the tale to tell? |
▪ II. hopple, n.
(ˈhɒp(ə)l)
[f. hopple v.]
1. An apparatus for hoppling horses, etc. (see prec.); also transf. a fetter; = hobble n. 3.
| a 1825 Forby Voc. E. Anglia, Hopple. 1886 Guernsey News 18 June 5/1 A pattern hopple for sheep..was submitted. 1888 W. Morris Dream J. Ball iv. 34, I..went up and down my prison what I could for my hopples. 1892 M. C. F. Morris Yorksh. Folk-Talk 113 When they are milking a cow they tie her hind legs with a hopple. |
2. ? = hobble-bush.
| 1856 Bryant Poems, Strange Lady vii, A pebbly brook, where rustling winds among the hopples sweep. |