Whats is a hobbler

[Ian Mac]

Whats is a hobbler? and where does the term originate from?

 

I think I know, but its not a term I had ever come across before the other day so I thought I'd throw the question open to the mass brains of the forum to check. So as not to mislead you I won't say yet what I believe it to be, other than it was traditionally used I believe in Wigan area, and maybe in other places - please advise.

 

 

--

Ian Mac

 

awaiting a varied set of responses.

 

Poco eat your heart out

 

and now I've spent ages on Google it would appear Jim Shead knows the first part of the answer, as I suspect a member here does

[Delta9]

They are for attaching a horses legs together to restrict movement so that they don't wander off too far. They make the horse hobble instead of walk so I would think that is why they are called hobblers.

Edited August 24, 2013 by Delta9

[luctor et emergo]

I suspect it's Northern? In which case it will be something edible, like a small teacake, which is nothing like a hobbling quasimodo..

[Jerra]

The only form of hobbling I have come across is a way of restricting the movement of horses legs so they can't run so I would assume a hobbler is either the equipment to do it or the person putting them on. However I have only ever heard them referred to as hobbles.

[dave moore]

Hi

 

In my native Black Country, a hobbler was someone who helped boaters work flights of locks, often a vagrant or someone who had fallen on hard times.

 

Dave

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

A Hobbler is a person who works your locks for a small reward.

[luctor et emergo]

Ahh, two responses that agree with each other.. interessting

[BruceinSanity]

A Hobbler is a person who works your locks for a small reward.

Aka a huffler?

[Gingerbeer]

It was an occupation.

 

http://rmhh.co.uk/occup/h.html

 

Hobbles go on horses but it is not a hobbler that puts them on.

Edited August 25, 2013 by Gingerbeer

[Grace and Favour]

Hobblers used to work at locks

 

Cobblers is what Poco spouts

 

Wobblers are what people throw (eg Poco)

[matty40s]

Nobblers are people who mess up wobbly-cobbly threads. As opposed to nibblers, who posts his lordly views on here.

[pete harrison]

Hi

 

In my native Black Country, a hobbler was someone who helped boaters work flights of locks, often a vagrant or someone who had fallen on hard times.

 

Dave

This is what I also know a 'hobbler' as, although I wouldn't like to say whether it is a Black Country term (I am originally from Birmingham and that is where I heard it first).

[Mick and Maggie]

I think its an antipodean term of endearment.

 

G'day hobbler?

[dmr]

A Hobbler is a person who works your locks for a small reward.

 

When we did the Wolverhampton flight behind Goliath I noticed that he had the assistance of a Hobbler on a pushbike, so would this be a hobbler wheeler, a wheeler Hobbler , or a wobbler????

 

...........Dave

[FadeToScarlet]

The story I heard was that during the nineteenth century, returning servicemen often used to work locks for change, and as many of them were injured, that's where the term came from.

 

Could be a load of hobbler's cobblers, though!

[Pete of Ebor]

The only form of hobbling I have come across is a way of restricting the movement of horses legs so they can't run so I would assume a hobbler is either the equipment to do it or the person putting them on. However I have only ever heard them referred to as hobbles.

 

Perhaps this is the root of the term "hobby-horse" - a horse that doesn't actually go anywhere as I understood the term to mean...

[Jerra]

 

Perhaps this is the root of the term "hobby-horse" - a horse that doesn't actually go anywhere as I understood the term to mean...

It is more likely to derive from the word Hobby a middle english word for a small light horse or possibly a breed of Irish horses now extinct.

[deckhand]

A Hobbler was an unlicensed pilot who would tow larger vessels into the harbour with ropes. Two or three Hobblers would own a boat between them.

[The Pipe]

 

Cobblers is what Poco spouts

 

Wobblers are what people throw (eg Poco)

And they let you be a mod?

[MtB]

I see no reason for mods not to take part in the cut and thrust of discusion.

 

Just because other mods have taken a back seat I see no reason for G&F to. I'd miss his eloquence if he did, anyway!

 

 

MtB

[matty40s]

And they let you be a mod?

ooo, just noticed, will have to be careful with the responses now....

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

 

When we did the Wolverhampton flight behind Goliath I noticed that he had the assistance of a Hobbler on a pushbike, so would this be a hobbler wheeler, a wheeler Hobbler , or a wobbler????

 

...........Dave

A lock wheeler,

 

Glenn

[Swallowman]

I see no reason for mods not to take part in the cut and thrust of discusion.

 

Just because other mods have taken a back seat I see no reason for G&F to. I'd miss his eloquence if he did, anyway!

 

 

MtB

 

Just when I threw my parka away as well......