gimp

¹ American  

[gimp] / gɪmp /

noun

1. a flat trimming of silk, wool, or other cord, sometimes stiffened with wire, for garments, curtains, etc.

2. a coarse thread, usually glazed, employed in lacemaking to outline designs.

---

gimp ² American  

[gimp] / gɪmp /

noun

Chiefly Northeastern U.S.

1. spirit, vigor, or ambition.

   She didn't have the gimp to look for a better job.

---

gimp ³ American  

[gimp] / gɪmp /

noun

1. a limp.

2. Usually Disparaging and Offensive. a term used to refer to a person who limps or is lame.

---

verb (used without object)

1. to limp; walk in a halting manner.

   a sprain that made her gimp for weeks.

gimp ⁴ American  

[jimp] / dʒɪmp /

adjective

Scot. and North England.

1. a variant of jimp.

---

gimp ¹ British  

/ ɡɪmp /

noun

1. offensive a physically disabled person, esp one who is lame

2. slang a sexual fetishist who likes to be dominated and who dresses in a leather or rubber body suit with mask, zips, and chains

---

gimp ² British  

/ ɡɪmp /

noun

1. a tapelike trimming of silk, wool, or cotton, often stiffened with wire

---

Sensitive Note

When describing someone who is lame, gimp is used with disparaging intent and perceived as insulting. But within the disability community, it is sometimes a term of self-reference.

Other Word Forms

• gimpy adjective

Etymology

Origin of gimp¹

First recorded in 1655–65; probably from Dutch gimp; further origin unknown

Origin of gimp²

First recorded in 1900–05; origin uncertain

Origin of gimp³

An Americanism dating back to 1920–25; origin uncertain

Related Words

• disable
• disfigure
• dismember
• hack
• harm
• impair
• incapacitate
• injure
• mangle
• maul
• mutilate
• wound