Ian Mac Posted August 24, 2013 Report Share Posted August 24, 2013 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delta9 Posted August 24, 2013 Report Share Posted August 24, 2013 (edited) 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luctor et emergo Posted August 24, 2013 Report Share Posted August 24, 2013 I suspect it's Northern? In which case it will be something edible, like a small teacake, which is nothing like a hobbling quasimodo.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerra Posted August 24, 2013 Report Share Posted August 24, 2013 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave moore Posted August 24, 2013 Report Share Posted August 24, 2013 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beerbeerbeerbeerbeer Posted August 24, 2013 Report Share Posted August 24, 2013 A Hobbler is a person who works your locks for a small reward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luctor et emergo Posted August 24, 2013 Report Share Posted August 24, 2013 Ahh, two responses that agree with each other.. interessting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceinSanity Posted August 25, 2013 Report Share Posted August 25, 2013 A Hobbler is a person who works your locks for a small reward. Aka a huffler? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gingerbeer Posted August 25, 2013 Report Share Posted August 25, 2013 (edited) 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grace and Favour Posted August 25, 2013 Report Share Posted August 25, 2013 Hobblers used to work at locks Cobblers is what Poco spouts Wobblers are what people throw (eg Poco) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty40s Posted August 25, 2013 Report Share Posted August 25, 2013 Nobblers are people who mess up wobbly-cobbly threads. As opposed to nibblers, who posts his lordly views on here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete harrison Posted August 25, 2013 Report Share Posted August 25, 2013 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). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick and Maggie Posted August 25, 2013 Report Share Posted August 25, 2013 I think its an antipodean term of endearment. G'day hobbler? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmr Posted August 25, 2013 Report Share Posted August 25, 2013 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FadeToScarlet Posted August 25, 2013 Report Share Posted August 25, 2013 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! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete of Ebor Posted August 25, 2013 Report Share Posted August 25, 2013 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... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerra Posted August 25, 2013 Report Share Posted August 25, 2013 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deckhand Posted August 25, 2013 Report Share Posted August 25, 2013 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pipe Posted August 25, 2013 Report Share Posted August 25, 2013 Cobblers is what Poco spouts Wobblers are what people throw (eg Poco) And they let you be a mod? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtB Posted August 25, 2013 Report Share Posted August 25, 2013 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty40s Posted August 26, 2013 Report Share Posted August 26, 2013 And they let you be a mod? ooo, just noticed, will have to be careful with the responses now.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beerbeerbeerbeerbeer Posted August 26, 2013 Report Share Posted August 26, 2013 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swallowman Posted August 26, 2013 Report Share Posted August 26, 2013 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...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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