different between gimpy vs gimp

English

Etymology

gimp +? -y

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -?mpi

Adjective

gimpy (comparative gimpier, superlative gimpiest)

1. limping, lame, with crippled legs.
   • 1899, Jacob A. Riis, "The Kid Hangs Up His Stocking", in The Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine, LIX:2, page 175.

     Presently Gimpy, who limped, as his name indicated, spoke up.

   • 1906, "The Eathquake and After", in Current Literature, LX:6, page 576.

     Gimpy Bill" is a cripple who sold lead-pencils in Market Street. His legs have been cut off almost to the hips, and he gets around on two little platforms,
2. exhibiting deficiencies associated with the derogatory term "gimp", such as might inspire discomfort or revulsion

   One of the kittens has a gimpy eye.

Synonyms

• (exhibiting deficiencies): freakish

Antonyms

• (exhibiting deficiencies): whole

Related terms

• gimp

Anagrams

• pigmy

English

Etymology 1

Attested since about 1660, perhaps from Dutch gimp or French guimpe, and likely from Old French guimpre, a variant of guipure, a kind of trimming.

The regional sense of "gumption" is attested since about 1905, and may have developed due to the reinforced nature of gimp cord, or possibly the influence of the words gumption and gumph.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??mp/
• Rhymes: -?mp

Noun

gimp (countable and uncountable, plural gimps)

1. A narrow ornamental fabric or braid of silk, wool, or cotton, often stiffened with metallic wire or coarse cord running through it, used as trimming for dresses, curtains, furniture, etc. Also guimpe.
2. Any coarse or reinforced thread, such as a glazed thread employed in lacemaking to outline designs, or silk thread used as a fishing leader, protected from the bite of fish by a wrapping of fine wire.
   • 1936, Djuna Barnes, Nightwood, Faber & Faber 2007, p. 87:

     I'm a fisher of men and my gimp is doing a saltarello over every body of water to fetch up what it may.

3. The plastic cord used in the plaiting and knotting craft Scoubidou (lanyard making); or, the process itself.
4. (dated, chiefly North Eastern US) Gumption

   Synonyms: spirit, ambition, vigor, pep

Related terms

• guimpe

Translations

Verb

gimp (third-person singular simple present gimps, present participle gimping, simple past and past participle gimped)

1. (of yarn, cord, thread, etc.) To wrap or wind (surround) with another length of yarn or wire in a tight spiral, often by means of a gimping machine, creating 'gimped yarn', etc. Also, generally, to wrap or twist with string or wire. See gimped.
   • 1856, Campbell Morfit, A Treatise on Chemistry Applied to the Manufacture of Soap and Candles, page 435 with illustration

     It consists of seventy fine spun cotton threads, gimped or tied around with thread by a machine similar to that for wrapping bonnet wire.
2. (dated) To notch or indent; to jag or make jagged; to edge with serrations or grooves.

Etymology 2

Attested in US slang since the 1920s. Maybe influenced by, or cognate with limp.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??mp/
• Rhymes: -?mp

Noun

gimp (plural gimps)

1. (informal) A person who is lame due to a crippling of the legs or feet.

   Synonyms: cripple, disabled (person)

2. (informal) A crippled leg.
3. (informal) A limp or a limping gait.
4. (slang, derogatory) A name-calling word, generally for a person who is perceived to be inept, deficient or peculiar

   Synonyms: dweeb, nerd, geek, gump, spod, dork

5. (BDSM) A sexual submissive, almost always male, dressed generally in a black leather suit. See Gimp (sadomasochism) in Wikipedia.
6. (video games, slang, derogatory) A character or ability that is underpowered.

Related terms

• gimp suit
• gimpy

Translations

Verb

gimp (third-person singular simple present gimps, present participle gimping, simple past and past participle gimped)

1. (intransitive, informal) To limp; to hobble.
2. (transitive, video games, slang) To make underpowered; to limit or restrict the useful effects of.

   Synonym: nerf

Etymology 3

Scots. Alternate form of jimp. Compare Welsh gwymp (“fair, neat, comely”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /d??mp/
• Rhymes: -?mp

Adjective

gimp (comparative more gimp, superlative most gimp)

1. (dated, Scotland and N England) Neat; trim; delicate; slender; handsome; spruce; elegant.

Quotations

• For quotations using this term, see Citations:gimp.

References

• 1846, John T. Brockett, A Glossary of North Country Words, page 190

Anagrams

• pIgM