/ ˈkrɪpl; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb [ vn ] [ usually passive ]
1.
to damage sb's body so that they are no longer able to walk or move normally
SYN disable :
He was crippled by polio as a child.
to be crippled with arthritis
2.
to seriously damage or harm sb/sth :
The pilot tried to land his crippled plane.
► crip·pling adjective :
a crippling disease
crippling debts
■ noun
( old-fashioned or offensive ) a person who is unable to walk or move normally because of a disease or injury :
( figurative )
He's an emotional cripple (= he cannot express his feelings) .
HELP NOTE : People now use disabled person instead of 'cripple'.
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English : from two words, crypel and crēopel , both of Germanic origin and related to creep .