Where does “limp” come from?
Limp comes from Middle English limpen, from Old English limpan, from Proto-Germanic limpaną, from Proto-Indo-European (s)lemb-, of unknown ultimate meaning.
limp (English): To walk lamely, as if favouring one leg; To...
Definitions
- To walk lamely, as if favouring one leg; To...
Ancestry of “limp”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | limp | — |
| 2 | Old English | lemp | — |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | *limpan | — |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | limpaną | to glide; to go; to suit, fit |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)lemb- | to droop; sag; hang loosely |
Words derived from “limp”