lamer; lamest
1
a
dated, now usually offensive; see usage paragraph below
: unable or only partially able to use a body part and especially a limb
b
: marked by stiffness and soreness
2
: not strong, good, or effective : lacking necessary or desirable substance : weak, ineffectual
3
slang
: boring, foolish, or unsophisticated
4
lamely
adverb
lameness
noun
Usage of Lame
Lame was formerly common as a descriptor of any person or animal lacking full use of a part of the body and especially a limb. Over the course of the 20th century, however, numerous disparaging uses of lame became common, making the neutral medical uses as applied to people increasingly offensive. Lame is no longer applied to people in medical contexts, and the disparaging uses, as in "a lame excuse," "he's so lame," "a lame party," and "lame jokes," are occasionally considered to be offensive as well. The use of lame in reference to animals remains common and is not usually regarded as offensive.
lamed; laming; lames
1
: to seriously injure a leg or part of a leg
a horse lamed by barbed wire
Note: Use of this sense in reference to people is now considered offensive.
2
dated
: to make weak or ineffective
1
the lame dated, now usually offensive
: people who are unable or only partially able to use a body part and especially a limb
providing care for the sick and the lame
2
slang
: a boring, foolish, or unsophisticated person
1
: a thin plate especially of metal : lamina
2
lames plural
: small overlapping steel plates joined to slide on one another (as in medieval armor)
: a brocaded clothing fabric made from any of various fibers combined with tinsel filling threads
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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