lame
/leɪm/
adjective
Origin
Proto-Germanic
*lamaz — weak, crippled
Overview
Meaning Now
- unable to walk without difficulty as the result of an injury or illness affecting the leg or foot.
- of an explanation or excuse, unconvincing and unsatisfactory.
- slang: dull, uninspiring, or socially inept.
Literal older meaning
physically disabled or crippled
Language path
Proto-Germanic → Old English → Middle English → English
Earliest form
lama
Earliest period
Old English
Journey
The word originally referred specifically to physical impairment. Over time, its meaning shifted from a literal description of disability to a general descriptor for inadequacy, mirroring the evolution of many similar adjectives describing physical traits applied to metaphorical contexts.
Evolution
- Proto-Germanic
*lamaz
“weak, paralyzed, or crippled”
- Old English
lama
“crippled, disabled”
- Middle English
lame
“disabled in the limbs”
- Modern English
lame
“unconvincing; socially awkward or boring”
The figurative sense of 'unconvincing' emerged in the 18th century, while the slang usage developed in 20th-century American subcultures.
Connections
Word parts
lame
root
weak or crippled
Related across languages
Old Norse
lami
broken, bruised, or weak
Dutch
lam
lame or paralyzed
German
lahm
lame or paralyzed
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.