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Hobble vs Fetter - What's the difference?

hobble | fetter | Synonyms |

In figurative terms the difference between hobble and fetter

is that hobble is to move roughly or irregularly while fetter is anything that restricts or restrains.

As nouns the difference between hobble and fetter

is that hobble is short straps tied between the legs of unfenced horses, allowing them to wander short distances but preventing them from running off while fetter is a chain or similar object used to bind a person or animal – often by its legs (usually in plural).

As verbs the difference between hobble and fetter

is that hobble is to fetter by tying the legs; to restrict (a horse) with hobbles while fetter is to shackle or bind up with fetters.

hobble

English

Noun

  • (en noun) (usually in plural )
  • Short straps tied between the legs of unfenced horses, allowing them to wander short distances but preventing them from running off.
  • An unsteady, off-balance step.

    • Synonyms

    * tether (rope)

    Verb

  • To fetter by tying the legs; to restrict (a horse) with hobbles.
    • (Charles Dickens)
  • To walk lame, or unevenly.
  • * Dryden
    • The friar was hobbling the same way too.
  • (figurative) To move roughly or irregularly.
  • * Jeffreys
    • The hobbling versification, the mean diction.
  • To perplex; to embarrass.

    • Derived terms

    * hobble skirt * hobbly * unhobble

    fetter

    English

    (wikipedia fetter)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A chain or similar object used to bind a person or animal – often by its legs (usually in plural) .
  • (figurative) Anything that restricts or restrains.
  • * {{quote-book
    • , year=1675 , author=John Dryden , title=Aureng-zebe , section=Prologue citation , passage=Passion's too fierce to be in fetters bound.}}
  • * {{quote-book
    • , year=1818 , author=Mary Shelley , title=Frankenstein , chapter=6 citation , passage=He looks upon study as an odious' ' fetter ; his time is spent in the open air, climbing the hills or rowing on the lake.}}
  • * {{quote-book
    • , year=1910 , year_published=2012 , edition=HTML , editor= , author=Erwin Rosen , title=In the Foreign Legion , chapter=Prolog citation , genre= , publisher=The Gutenberg Project , isbn= , page= , passage=That was the turning-point of my life. I broke my fetters , and I fought a hard fight for a new career … }}

    Synonyms

    (chains on legs) * leg irons

    Hyponyms

    (chain binding generally) * handcuff, handcuffs * leg irons * manacle, manacles * shackle, shackles

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To shackle or bind up with fetters
  • To restrain or impede; to hamper.

    • Derived terms

    * unfetter

    Hyponyms

    * handcuff * manacle * shackle