a speech defect consisting in pronouncing s and z like or nearly like the th-sounds of thin and this, respectively.
Phonetics. any unconventional articulation of the sibilants, as the pronunciation of s and z with the tongue between the teeth (lingual protrusion lisp), close to or touching the upper front teeth (dental lisp), or raised so that the breath is emitted laterally (lateral lisp).
the act, habit, or sound of lisping.
verb (used with or without object)
to pronounce or speak with a lisp.
to speak imperfectly, especially in a childish manner.
Origin of lisp
before 1100;Middle Englishwlispen, lipsen,Old Englishāwlyspian; akin to Dutchlisp(el)en,Germanlispeln,Norwegianleipsa
Related formslisp·er, nounlisp·ing·ly, adverbun·lisp·ing, adjective
late Old English awlyspian "to lisp," from wlisp (adj.) "lisping," probably of imitative origin (cf. Middle Dutch, Old High German lispen, Danish læspe, Swedish läspa). Related: Lisped; lisping.
