Definition

1. Noun:

   • A physical disability that severely impairs walking: Specifically refers to a limp or a pronounced difficulty in walking, typically due to injury, deformity, or weakness in the legs or feet.

2. Verb:

   • To walk with a limp or in a hobbling manner: To move in a way that is impeded by a physical limitation, injury, or pain, resulting in an uneven, labored gait.

Usage Examples

• Noun: After the accident, he walked with a noticeable gimp. The old injury left him with a permanent gimp in his step.

• Verb: She had to gimp along the trail after twisting her ankle. He gimped across the room, leaning heavily on his cane.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often considered informal and can be perceived as offensive or derogatory when used as a noun to describe a person with a disability. Its use as a verb is generally more descriptive and less stigmatizing, though caution is still advised.
• "to have a gimp": to possess a limp or a walking disability.

Variants and Related Words

• Gimpy (adj): Describing someone or something that has a limp or is lame.
• Hobble (verb/noun): A close synonym meaning to walk unsteadily or a device/state that causes such walking.

Synonyms

• Noun: Limp, lameness, hobble.
• Verb: Hobble, limp, falter, shuffle.

Related Phrases

• "to walk with a gimp": To walk with a pronounced limp.

Noun

1. disability of walking due to crippling of the legs or feet

Verb

1. walk impeded by some physical limitation or injury
   • The old woman hobbles down to the store every day