I. ˈmām transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English maymen, mahaymen, from Anglo-French maheimer, mahaigner — more at mayhem
Date: 14th century
1. : to commit the felony of mayhem upon
2. : to mutilate, disfigure, or wound seriously
• maim·er noun
Synonyms:
maim , cripple , mutilate , batter , mangle mean to injure so severely as to cause lasting damage. maim implies the loss or injury of a bodily member through violence
maimed by a shark
cripple implies the loss or serious impairment of an arm or leg
crippled for life in an accident
mutilate implies the cutting off or removal of an essential part of a person or thing thereby impairing its completeness, beauty, or function
a tree mutilated by inept pruning
batter implies a series of blows that bruise deeply, deform, or mutilate
an old ship battered by fierce storms
mangle implies a tearing or crushing that leaves deep wounds
a soldier's leg mangled by shrapnel
II. noun
Date: 14th century
1. obsolete : serious physical injury ; especially : loss of a member of the body
2. obsolete : a serious loss