I. ˈlam, ˈlaa(ə)m verb
( lammed ; lammed ; lamming ; lams )
Etymology: of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse lemja to thrash, flog, beat; akin to Old English lemman to lame, Old High German lemmen; causative-denominatives from the root of English lame (I)
transitive verb
: to beat soundly : thrash , strike , whack
intransitive verb
1. : strike , thrash — usually used with into or out
lammed out wildly at them
2. : to flee hastily : beat it : scram
let's lam out of here
II. noun
( -s )
: flight — used in the phrase on the lam
to hide a former lover, now on the lam from Dartmoor — Robert Hatch
that so-and-so of a promoter had taken it on the lam — Irene Kuhn
III. noun
also lamm “
( -s )
Etymology: French lame lamina, blade, lam — more at lame
: any of the lower levers connected by cords between harnesses and treadles in various looms to enable the weaver to bring down several harnesses with one foot
IV. abbreviation
laminated