Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - maim

 I. 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  • ~er noun Synonyms:  ~, cripple, mutilate, batter, mangle mean to injure so severely as to cause lasting damage. ~ implies the loss or injury of a bodily member through violence ~ed 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