̈ɪleɪm adj. & v. --adj. 1 disabled,
esp. in
the foot or
leg; limping;
unable to
walk normally (lame in
his right leg). 2 a (of an
argument, story,
excuse, etc.)
unconvincing;
unsatisfactory;
weak. b (of
verse etc.) halting. --v.tr. 1
make lame;
disable. 2
harm permanently. ølame-brain US colloq. a
stupid person. lame duck 1 a disabled or weak person. 2 a
defaulter on the
Stock Exchange. 3 a firm etc. in
financial difficulties. 4 US an
official (esp. the President) in the
final period of
office,
after the
election of a
successor. øølamely adv. lameness n. lamish adj. [OE
lama f. Gmc]