GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 2 definitions

1.       
   Lame , a. [Compar. Lamer ; superl. Lamest.] [OE. lame, AS. lama; akin to D. lam, G. lahm, OHG., Dan., & Sw. lam, Icel. lami, Russ. lomate to break, lomota rheumatism.]
   (a) Moving with pain or difficulty on account of injury, defect, or temporary obstruction of a function; as, a lame leg, arm, or muscle. (b) To some degree disabled by reason of the imperfect action of a limb; crippled; as, a lame man. “Lame of one leg.” Arbuthnot. “Lame in both his feet.” 2 Sam. ix. 13. “He fell, and became lame.” 2 Sam. iv. 4.
   1913 Webster
   Hence, hobbling; limping; inefficient; imperfect; as, a lame answer. “A lame endeavor.” 
   Barrow.
   
   1913 Webster
   O, most lame and impotent conclusion!
   Shak.
   
   1913 Webster
   Lame duck (a) (Stock Exchange), a person who can not fulfill his contracts. [Cant] (b) An elected politician who is completing a term after having been defeated at an election; also, an office holder who cannot or chooses not to run again for the same office; -- So called from the presumed lack of political power of one who is soon to be out of office. (b) Any office holder who is serving out a term after a replacement has been selected.
   1913 Webster
   +PJC
   
         
       

2.       
   Lame , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lamed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Laming.] To make lame.
   1913 Webster
   If you happen to let child fall and lame it.
   Swift.
   
   1913 Webster