limp1
[limp]
- to walk with a labored, jerky movement, as when lame.
- to proceed in a lame, faltering, or labored manner: His writing limps from one cliché to another. The old car limped along.
- to progress slowly and with great difficulty; make little or no advance: an economy that limps along at a level just above total bankruptcy.
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- a lame movement or gait: The accident left him with a slight limp.
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Origin of limp1
1560–70; back formation from obsolete limphault lame; Old English lemphealt limping (see halt2); akin to Middle High German limpfen to limp
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for limped
Contemporary Examples
When the speech ended, with “I am proud to present . . . ” Furry, carrying his battered Epiphone guitar, limped onto the stage.
And for the first time in his career, as he limped in and out of the French Open quarterfinal, he looked his age.
Mitt, who garnered 29 percent in Missouri in 2008, limped in with 25 percent—less than half the votes Santorum earned.
Even Rep. Michele Bachmann, usually a prolific fundraiser, limped across last year's finish line with about $12 million.
Obama Campaign Aims to Collect $1 Billion While GOP Relies on Super PACsLaura Colarusso
February 5, 2012
In the last 24 hours, two boats bypassed Lampedusa and limped into the port of Catania on the Sicilian island.
Historical Examples
He limped about on his crutches, collected all things needful, and sat down to work.
Chip, of the Flying UB. M. Bower
After a little, he slid to the ground and limped over to her.
Chip, of the Flying UB. M. Bower
He limped up the hill to her, and sat down on the top step of the porch.
Chip, of the Flying UB. M. Bower
The man turned the handle of the Break of Day door, and limped in.
Little DorritCharles Dickens
He limped a little, for Von Holzen had in the struggle kicked him on the ankle.
Roden's CornerHenry Seton Merriman
limp1
- to walk with an uneven step, esp with a weak or injured leg
- to advance in a labouring or faltering manner
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- an uneven walk or progress
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Word Origin
C16: probably a back formation from obsolete limphalt lame, from Old English lemphealt; related to Middle High German limpfen to limp
limp2
- not firm or stiff
- not energetic or vital
- (of the binding of a book) not stiffened with boards
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Word Origin
C18: probably of Scandinavian origin; related to Icelandic limpa looseness
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for limped
limp
v.
1560s, of unknown origin, perhaps related to Middle English lympen "to fall short" (c.1400), which is probably from Old English lemphealt "halting, lame, limping," which has a lone cognate in the rare Middle High German limphin, and perhaps is from a PIE root meaning "slack, loose, to hang down" (cf. Sanskrit lambate "hangs down," Middle High German lampen "to hang down"). Related: Limped; limping. As a noun, 1818, from the verb.
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limp
adj.
1706, "flaccid, drooping," of obscure origin, perhaps related to limp (v.).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
limp
(lĭmp)- An irregular, jerky, or awkward gait; a claudication.
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- To walk lamely, especially with irregularity, as if favoring one leg.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.