Although the limber's primary purpose was to haul the artillery piece and the caisson, it also hauled the battery wagon and a traveling forge. One or two of the limbers were similarly withdrawn by hand, but the work was most severe and the distance considerable. Sound-by-sound pronunciation UK /ˈlɪm.bər/ limber /l/ as in look /ɪ/ as in ship /m/ as in moon /b/ as in book /ə/ as in above US /ˈlɪm.bɚ/ limber /l/ as in look /ɪ/ as in ship /m/ as in moon /b/ as in book /ɚ/ as in mother.