nobble

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
nobble/ˈnɒbl/

▶verb Brit. informal

• 1 try to influence or thwart by underhand or unfair methods.

  ■ tamper with (a racehorse) to prevent it from winning a race.

• 2 accost (someone).

• 3 obtain dishonestly; steal.

  ■ seize.

– derivatives
nobbler noun.

– origin C19: prob. a var. of dial. knobble, knubble ‘knock, strike with the knuckles’.