The first meaning is employed mainly in sporting contexts, especially in horse racing. The second is used in judicial contexts, applied often to courts, juries and other judicial bodies.

* (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈnɒbl̩/ * Rhymes: -ɒbəl

NOBBLE (_third-person singular simple present_ NOBBLES, _present participle_ NOBBLING, _simple past and past participle_ NOBBLED) * (UK, Australia, slang) To injure or obstruct intentionally; batter. * 2011, Terry Ryder, "Affordable-housing lobby out to nobble investments", _The Australian_, 22 October 2011: Their core belief, unsupported by evidence or logic, is that homes are unaffordable because investors drive up prices. Australians for Affordable Housing appears to think that NOBBLING investors will strike a telling blow for first-time buyers: remove negative gearing and increase capital gains tax, and homes will be affordable. * 2012, Gavin Clarke, "Google attacks Twitter's search bias claim", _The Register_, 11 January 2012: Google has come out fighting after Twitter claimed that changes to its search engine NOBBLE results to favour Google+, damaging the internet. * 2012, "3D printing: Difference Engine: The PC all over again?", _The Economist_, 9 September 2012: His main fear is that the fledgling technology could have its wings clipped by traditional manufacturers, who will doubtless view it as a threat to their livelihoods, and do all in their powers to NOBBLE it. * (UK, slang) To gain influence by corrupt means or intimidation. _The jury was NOBBLED to delay unanimous verdict._ * 2000, Italo Pardo, _Morals of Legitimacy: Between Agency and System_, page 122 Unlike "noble" vigilantes, the police and court facilities which exist are said to be inefficient and corrupt, and juries are said to be easily "NOBBLED" or intimidated. * 2002, Kevin Jefferys, _Labour Forces: From Ernie Bevin to Gordon Brown_, page 107 For example jury trials were reformed to allow majority verdicts, so that criminals could less easily NOBBLE them. * 2012, Mark Hagger, _William: King and Conqueror_, page 75 Here, though, Picot's overbearing power, and the fact that the bishop was an absentee, meant that the sheriff could use threats to "NOBBLE" the judges. * (UK, slang) To steal. TRANSLATIONS