nobble

1 of 4

verb

nob·​ble ˈnä-bəl 

nobbled; nobbling ˈnä-b(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

British : to incapacitate (a racehorse) especially by drugging

2

British slang

a

: to win over to one's side

b

: steal

c

: swindle, cheat

d

: to get hold of : catch

nobbler

ˈnä-b(ə-)lər 

noun

nobbler

2 of 4

noun (1)

nob·​bler ˈnä-b(ə-)lər 

plural -s

1

British : one that nobbles horses

2

British : swindler

nobbler

3 of 4

noun (2)

nob·​bler ˈnä-b(ə-)lər 

plural -s

Australia

: a drink of liquor or beer

nobbler

4 of 4

noun (3)

nob·​bler ˈnä-b(ə-)lər 

plural -s

1

slang, British : a blow on the head : knockout

2

slang, British : nobby entry 2 sense 1

Synonyms of nobble

Verb

• cheat
• squeeze
• pluck
• sting
• screw
• stick
• hustle
• beat
• deceive
• swindle
• mulct
• cozen

Examples of nobble in a Sentence

Verb

We found out later that the horse had been nobbled, which explained its poor performance.

She was trying to nobble the jury.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Poland’s ruling party has tried to nobble the courts and the civil service. —The Economist, 31 Oct. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun (1)

perhaps irregular frequentative of nab

Noun (2)

origin unknown

and Noun (3)

First Known Use

Verb

1847, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for nobble

• bauble
• cobble
• gobble
• hobble
• labile
• squabble
• wobble
• cantabile