Also 8 wabler, 9 wabbler. [f. WOBBLE v. + -ER1.] One who or that which wobbles; a person or animal that walks unsteadily; one who wavers or vacillates in opinion; also spec. (see quots. 1785, 1823, 1875).
1785. Grose, Dict. Vulgar T., Wabler, foot waller, a contemptuous term for a foot soldier, frequently used by those of the cavalry.
1823. ‘Jon Bee,’ Dict. Turf, Wabbler, a boiled leg of mutton, alluding to the noise made in dressing it.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 2717. Wabbler, an elliptical cutter-head placed at such obliquity on the shaft as to revolve in a circular path. Sometimes called a drunken cutter.
1887. Pall Mall Gaz., 20 Aug., 1/1. Supposing that they follow up their vigorous words by vigorous deeds—a great supposition indeed in the case of such a Government of Wobblers.
1897. Barrère & Leland, Dict. Slang, Wobbler,… a horse that swerves from side to side when trotting.
