crippler

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crip·ple

(krĭp′əl)

a. Often Offensive A person who is partially disabled or unable to use one or more limbs:

b. An animal that is partially disabled or unable to use one or more limbs: cannot race a horse that is a cripple.

2. A damaged or defective object or device: "He ... would let that cripple of a steamboat get the upper hand of him in a minute" (Joseph Conrad).

tr.v. crip·pled, crip·pling, crip·ples

1. To cause to lose the use of a limb or limbs.

2. To disable, damage, or impair the functioning of: a strike that crippled the factory.

[Middle English crepel, from Old English crypel.]

crip′pler n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

References in classic literature ?

Badger gave us in the drawing-room a biographical sketch of the life and services of Captain Swosser before his marriage and a more minute account of him dating from the time when he fell in love with her at a ball on board the Crippler, given to the officers of that ship when she lay in Plymouth Harbour.

View in context

One was called "Mother-in-Laws seat", or, Horse crippler", as it had many fine and very sharp spikes that could cause a lot of damage.

club call If you would like to contribute to Club Call, contact Andy Rush on 01509 635802 or E-mail andy.rush@reachplc.com

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One who mutilates righteousness should be called a 'crippler'.

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