nob|ble

nob|ble «NOB uhl», transitive verb, -bled, -bling. British Slang.

1. to tamper with (a horse) to prevent its winning a race, as by the use of drugs: »

Tipsters whose dead certainties fail to win are often prone to complain that their favourites have been nobbled (London Times).

2. to bring (a person) over to one's own side by bribery or other such means.

3. to obtain dishonestly; steal.

4. to swindle: »

I don't know out of how much the reverend party has nobbled his poor old sister (Thackeray).

5. to seize, catch, or capture.

╂[origin uncertain]

–nob´bler, noun.