hobbler
English
Etymology
Old English also hobeler, Old French hobelier, Latinhobellarius. See hobby (“a horse”).
Noun
hobbler (plural hobblers)
- One who hobbles.
- (Britain, historical) One who by his tenure was to maintain a horse for military service; a kind of light horseman in the Middle Ages who was mounted on a hobby.
- 1954, James Francis Lydon, The hobelar: An Irish contribution to medieval warfare, Irish Sword, II, v, pp. 12–16.
- However superior the Norman knight might be upon the field of battle, the bogs and woods of Ireland gave little opportunity for the mail-clad charge. Thus there evolved in Ireland, as a habitual part of every Anglo-Norman force, a type of light horseman, which came to known as the hobelar.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Hallam to this entry?)
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Sir J. Davies to this entry?)
- 1954, James Francis Lydon, The hobelar: An Irish contribution to medieval warfare, Irish Sword, II, v, pp. 12–16.
- An unlicensed pilot, casual dock labourer, etc.
- A man who tows a canal boat with a rope.