Definition

1. Verb:
   • To fasten together the legs of an animal, typically a horse, by means of a short strap or rope, especially to prevent free movement or to coordinate the legs on the same side for a specific purpose like racing.

Usage

• Verb:
  • The groom will hopple the horse to keep it from wandering off while grazing.
  • Before the special race, they hopple the horses to ensure a particular gait.

Advanced Usage

• "to be hoppled": to be restrained by having the legs fastened.
  • The nervous colt was hoppled for its own safety during the veterinary examination.

Variants and Related Words

• Hobble (verb): to walk with difficulty or to tie the legs of an animal to restrict movement. (Note: 'Hobble' is a more general synonym; 'hopple' often implies a specific method of tying legs together in pairs on each side).
• Hopple can also be used as a noun in some contexts, though less common, referring to the strap or fetter used for the act.
  • The leather hopple was checked for wear.

Synonyms

• Fetter: to restrain with chains or manacles, often used for humans but can apply to animals.
• Shackle: to chain or restrain, typically the ankles.

Related Phrases

• Hoppled race: a type of horse race where the animals are hoppled to maintain a specific, synchronized pace.
  • The county fair featured an exciting hoppled race.

Verb

1. strap the foreleg and hind leg together on each side (of a horse) in order to keep the legs on the same side moving in unison
   • hobble race horses