Hamble

Alternative forms

• hammel, hamel, hammle

Origin

From Middle English hamelen, from Old English hamelian ("to hamstring, mutilate"), from Proto-Germanic *hamalōną, *hamlōną ("to mutilate"), from Proto-Indo-European *kem- ("mutilated, hornless"). Cognate with German hammeln, hämmeln ("to geld"), Icelandic hamla ("to mutilate, maim"), Dutch hamel ("wether").

Full definition of hamble

Verb

1. (obsolete, transitive) To mutilate; hamstring; cut away.
2. (transitive) To cut out the balls of the feet of (dogs) so as to render them unfit for hunting.
3. (intransitive) To walk lame; limp.