Gimp
/ɡɪmp/noun
A word referring either to ornamental cord or, often offensively, to a person perceived as physically disabled, weak, or foolish.
Did you know?The cord-and-trim sense is linked to French guimpe and ultimately to the same Germanic clothing-root family as wimple, while the insulting slang sense has a separate, uncertain history.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
wimple
“A cloth covering for the head, neck, or shoulders”
16th Century
French
guimpe
“A woman’s garment or covering around the neck”
17th Century
English
gimp
“Silk, wire, or other ornamental cord used for trimming”
19th Century
English
gimp
“A type of decorative braid or edging”
Early 20th Century
American English
gimp
“Slang for a lame or physically disabled person; the origin of this sense is uncertain, though alteration of limp has been proposed”
Modern English
English
gimp
“Decorative trim, or an offensive term for a disabled, weak, or foolish person”