Word origins - 2ed. J. Ayto. 2005.
Cripple — Crip ple (kr[i^]p p l), n. [OE. cripel, crepel, crupel, AS. crypel (akin to D. kreuple, G. kr[ u]ppel, Dan. kr[ o]bling, Icel. kryppill), prop., one that can not walk, but must creep, fr. AS. cre[ o]pan to creep. See {Creep}.] One who creeps,… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Cripple — Crip ple, (kr[i^]p p l), n. [Local. U. S.] (a) Swampy or low wet ground, often covered with brush or with thickets; bog. The flats or cripple land lying between high and low water lines, and over which the waters of the stream ordinarily come and … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Cripple — Crip ple (kr[i^]p p l), a. Lame; halting. [R.] The cripple, tardy gaited night. Shak. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Cripple — Crip ple, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Crippled} ( p ld); p. pr. & vb. n. {Crippling} ( pl?ng).] 1. To deprive of the use of a limb, particularly of a leg or foot; to lame. [1913 Webster] He had crippled the joints of the noble child. Sir W. Scott. [1913 … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
cripple — (n.) O.E. crypel, related to cryppan to crook, bend, from P.Gmc. *krupilaz (Cf. O.Fris. kreppel, M.Du. cropel, Ger. krüppel, O.N. kryppill). Possibly also related to O.E. creopan to creep (creopere, lit. creeper, was another O.E. word for… … Etymology dictionary
cripple — [v1] disable; make lame attenuate, blunt, debilitate, disarm, dislimb, dismember, enfeeble, hamstring*, hurt, immobilize, incapacitate, injure, lame, maim, mangle, mutilate, palsy, paralyze, prostrate, sap, sideline*, stifle, undermine,… … New thesaurus
cripple — ► NOUN archaic or offensive ▪ a person who is unable to walk or move properly through disability or injury. ► VERB 1) make (someone) unable to move or walk properly. 2) cause severe and disabling damage to (something). USAGE The word cripple as a … English terms dictionary
cripple — [krip′əl] n. [ME cripel < OE crypel (akin to Ger krüppel) < base of creopan: see CREEP] 1. a person or animal that is lame or otherwise disabled in a way that prevents normal motion of the limbs or body: somewhat offensive when used to… … English World dictionary
cripple — index damage, debilitate, disable, disarm (divest of arms), foil, frustrate, harm, hinder, impair … Law dictionary
cripple — vb 1 *maim, mutilate, batter, mangle Analogous words: *injure, hurt 2 disable, *weaken, enfeeble, debilitate, undermine, sap Analogous words: damage, harm, impair, mar (see INJURE) … New Dictionary of Synonyms
cripple — meaning ‘a person who is permanently lame’ is now regarded as offensive. Use disabled person instead … Modern English usage
