noun
1. : a person unable to meet financial obligations — used especially of a speculator on an exchange
2. : an elected officer or group (as a legislature) continuing to hold political office during a usually brief interim between defeat for reelection and the inauguration of a successor
the president nominated for the Interstate Commerce Commission a lame duck — E.W.Carter & C.C.Rohlfing
the 20th amendment abolished the lame-duck sessions of Congress
3. : one that falls behind in ability or performance sometimes because of injury or deprivation : ne'er-do-well , straggler , victim , weak sister
lame ducks and neglected possibilities — George Santayana
lame ducks and half-talents … used to be granted solo appearances — New Republic
she always has to have a lame duck to look after — Louis Auchincloss