mayhem

[mey-hem, mey-uhm]

noun

1. Law.,  the crime of willfully inflicting a bodily injury on another so as to make the victim less capable of self-defense or, under modern statutes, so as to cripple or mutilate the victim.

2. random or deliberate violence or damage.

3. a state of rowdy disorder.

   Antagonisms between the various factions at the meeting finally boiled over, and mayhem ensued.

mayhem

/ ˈmeɪhɛm /

noun

1. law the wilful and unlawful infliction of injury upon a person, esp (formerly) the injuring or removing of a limb rendering him less capable of defending himself against attack

2. any violent destruction or confusion

Word History and Origins

Origin of mayhem¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English maheym, maim, from Anglo-French mahe(i)m, mahaim, from Germanic; akin to Middle High German meidem “gelding,” Old Norse meitha “to injure”; maim

Word History and Origins

Origin of mayhem¹

C15: from Anglo-French mahem injury, from Germanic; related to Icelandic meitha to hurt. See _maim

Example Sentences

Inwardly she felt a pang of relief, for in all the mayhem no one had noticed her mistake.

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“Now, now. A little mayhem never hurt anyone,” Alexander said, and patted his sister on the shoulder.

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Her mouth was full of cake, so the word was hard to make out, but Penelope thought it sounded like “mayhem.”

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Both nights had ended in mayhem, with the children being pursued—or hunted, if you will.

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When thieves break into John Wick’s home, mayhem and retribution ensue.

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Related Words

• anarchy 
• commotion 
• destruction 
• fracas 
• havoc 
• pandemonium 
• violence