Where does “limping” come from?

Limping comes from Middle English limpen, Old English limpan, Proto-Germanic limpaną, and Proto-Indo-European (s)lemb-, with the original sense of moving unevenly or lamely.

limping (English): present participle of limp; The motion of one who...

Definitions

  1. present participle of limp; The motion of one who...

Ancestry of “limping”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlimpTo walk lamely, as if favouring one leg; To...
2Middle Englishlimp—
3Old Englishlemp—
4Proto-West Germanic*limpanto turn out well
5Proto-Germaniclimpanąto glide; to go; to suit, fit
6Proto-Indo-European(s)lemb-to droop; sag; hang loosely

Words derived from “limping”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)lemb- →
limping — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer