[crip.ple] n [ME cripel, fr. OE crypel; akin to OE creopan to creep--more at creep] (bef. 12c) 1 a: a lame or partly disabled person or animal--sometimes taken to be offensive b: one that is disabled or deficient in a specified manner "a social ~"
2: something flawed or imperfect
[2]cripple adj (13c): being a cripple: lame [3]cripple vt crip.pled ; crip.pling (14c) 1: to deprive of the use of a limb and esp. a leg
2: to deprive of capability for service or of strength, efficiency, or wholeness syn see maim, weaken -- crip.pler n -- crip.pling.ly adv