cripple English · revision 387

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈkɹɪp(ə)l/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|crupel]], later ''cripel'',^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate) [[inh|ang|crypel]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986) from Proto-Germanic ''*krupilaz'',^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) related to Old English ''cryppan'' “to crook, bend”^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) and to [[creep]].^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986)^(Cresswell 2021) Cognates include Old Frisian ''kreppel'', Middle Dutch ''cropel'', German ''Krüppel'' and Old Norse ''kryppill''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) A parallel Old English form ''crēopel'' corresponds to Middle Low German and Middle Dutch ''krēpel''.^(Hoad 1986) The original meaning may have been “one who can only creep”.^(Cresswell 2021)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A person who is disabled in the use of the limbs, or lame (c. 950).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Old English ''crypel'' named one who creeps, halts or limps.^(Etymonline) The verb arose in the mid-13th century, first intransitive, “to move lamely, hobble” (c. 1220),^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995) and from the early 14th century transitive, “to lame, disable”.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995) From the late 17th century it was applied figuratively to disabling machines (1694) and to impairing resources, trade or efforts (1702).^(OED 1989) In Middle English place names ''cripple'' meant a low opening or burrow, and in American use a dense, swampy thicket (1670s).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 950 – Old English ''crypel'', a lame person.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * c. 1220 – verb, to move lamely, hobble.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1300 – verb, to lame, disable.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1694 – to disable a machine or vessel.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1702 – to impair resources or efforts.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1785 – slang, a sixpence.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(often offensive)'' A person or animal that is partly or wholly unable to use one or more limbs.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(often offensive)'' A person who is disabled or deficient in some particular way, as ''a social cripple''.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Something damaged, flawed or defective.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # ''(carpentry)'' A [[stud]] shorter than usual, as above or below a window.^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To deprive of the use of a limb, especially a leg; to [[lame]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To disable or seriously impair the strength or functioning of, as ''an economy crippled by inflation''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[crippler]]

+ * [[cripplingly]]

+ * [[becripple]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[creep]]

+ * [[crooked]]

+ * [[lame]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Merriam-Webster and Random House label the noun sometimes offensive when applied to people.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}