Lame \Lame\, a. [Compar. Lamer; superl. Lamest.]

[OE. lame, AS. lama; akin to D. lam, G. lahm,OHG., Dan., & Sw. lam, Icel. lami, Russ. lomate to break, lomota rheumatism.]

1.
   (a) Moving with pain or difficulty on account of injury, defect, or temporary obstruction of a function; as, a lame leg, arm, or muscle.
   (b) To some degree disabled by reason of the imperfect action of a limb; crippled; as, a lame man. ``Lame of one leg.'' --Arbuthnot. ``Lame in both his feet.'' --2 Sam. ix. 13. ``He fell, and became lame.'' --2 Sam. iv. 4.

2. Hence, hobbling; limping; inefficient; imperfect. ``A lame endeavor.'' --Barrow.

O, most lame and impotent conclusion! --Shak.

Lame duck (stock Exchange), a person who can not fulfill his contracts. [Cant]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)