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Added 9 October 2026

gimp

/ɡɪmp/ noun

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about gimp at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Disability of walking due to crippling of the legs or feet.

verb

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

Origin

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.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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