adj. & v.
adj. 1 disabled, esp. in the foot or leg; limping; unable to walk normally (lame in his right leg). 2 a (of an argument, story, excuse, etc.) unconvincing; unsatisfactory; weak. b (of verse etc.) halting.
v.tr. 1 make lame; disable. 2 harm permanently. lame-brain US colloq. a stupid person. lame duck 1 a disabled or weak person. 2 a defaulter on the Stock Exchange. 3 a firm etc. in financial difficulties. 4 US an official (esp. the President) in the final period of office, after the election of a successor. lamely adv. lameness n. lamish adj.
[ OE lama f. Gmc ]