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Limp vs Lame - What's the difference?

limp | lame |

In transitive terms the difference between limp and lame

is that limp is to come upon; meet while lame is to cause a person or animal to become lame.

As verbs the difference between limp and lame

is that limp is to happen; befall; chance while lame is to cause a person or animal to become lame.

As adjectives the difference between limp and lame

is that limp is flaccid; flabby, as flesh while lame is unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs.

As nouns the difference between limp and lame

is that limp is a scraper of board or sheet-iron shaped like half the head of a small cask, used for scraping the ore off the sieve in the operation of hand-jigging while lame is a lamina.

limp

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) limpen, from (etyl) .

Verb

  • To happen; befall; chance.
  • To come upon; meet.
    • Derived terms
    * (l)

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) *. See above.

    Adjective

    (er)
  • flaccid; flabby, as flesh.
  • lacking stiffness; flimsy; as, a limp cravat.
  • (of a penis) not erect
  • (of a man) not having an erect penis
  • physically weak
  • * 2011 , Tom Fordyce, Rugby World Cup 2011: England 12-19 France [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/15210221.stm]
    • Another line-out was stolen, and when the ball was sent left Clerc stepped and spun through limp challenges from Wilkinson, Chris Ashton and Foden to dive over and make it 11-0.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To be inadequate or unsatisfactory.

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • A scraper of board or sheet-iron shaped like half the head of a small cask, used for scraping the ore off the sieve in the operation of hand-jigging.

    • Etymology 3

    From (etyl) *.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To walk lamely, as if favouring one leg.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=April 11 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Liverpool 3 - 0 Man City , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Dirk Kuyt sandwiched a goal in between Carroll's double as City endured a night of total misery, with captain Carlos Tevez limping off early on with a hamstring strain that puts a serious question mark over his participation in Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United at Wembley. }}
  • (intransitive, figuratively, of a vehicle) To travel with a malfunctioning system of propulsion
    • The bomber limped home on one engine.
  • (poker slang) To call.
    • Derived terms
    * (l) * (l)

    Noun

    (wikipedia limp) (en noun)
  • An irregular, jerky or awkward gait
  • A scraper for removing poor ore or refuse from the sieve
  • A code-word among s, standing for L'ouis XIV, '''J'''ames II, Queen '''M'''ary of Modena and the ' P rince of Wales.Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, Millennium Edition, art. "Limp"

    • Anagrams

    *

    References

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    lame

    English

    (wikipedia lame)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) (m), from (etyl) .

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs.
  • Moving with pain or difficulty on account of injury, defect or temporary obstruction of a function.
    • a lame leg, arm or muscle
  • (by extension) Hobbling; limping; inefficient; imperfect.
  • * Barrow
    • a lame endeavour
  • * Shakespeare
    • O, most lame and impotent conclusion!
  • (slang) Unconvincing or unbelievable.
    • He had a really lame excuse for missing the birthday party.
  • (slang) Failing to be cool, funny, interesting or relevant.
    • He kept telling these extremely lame jokes all night.
  • (slang) Strangely corny or sweet to an extent.
    • I told him not to bring me flowers, so he brought a bunch of carrots instead. It was lame but it made me smile.
    Usage notes
    Referring to a person without a disability as “lame” is offensive to many as it suggests a derogatory characterization of the physical condition from which the term was derived.
    Synonyms
    * (sense, unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs) crippled * (moving with difficulty) * (sense) hobbling, limping, inefficient, imperfect * (sense) unconvincing, unbelievable * uncool, unfunny, uninteresting, irrelevant
    Antonyms
    * (sense, unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs) * (moving with difficulty) * (sense) efficient, perfect * (sense) convincing, believable * cool, funny, interesting, relevant
    Derived terms
    * lame duck * lamage * lamebrain * lamely * lameness * lamestream * lame-o

    Verb

    (lam)
  • to cause a person or animal to become lame
  • * 1877', Anna Sewell, ''Black Beauty'': And if you don't want to ' lame your horse you must look sharp and get them [stones stuck in hooves] out quickly.
  • * 1913 ,
    • Now her soul felt lamed in itself. It was her hope that was struck.

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) lame, from (etyl) lamina.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A lamina.
  • (in the plural) A set of joined, overlapping metal plates.
    • Related terms
    *

    Etymology 3

    Verb

    (lam)
  • (obsolete) To shine.
    • (Piers Plowman)
    (Webster 1913)

    References

    Anagrams

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