gimp

Signification (Anglais)

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) A narrow ornamental fabric or braid of silk, wool, or cotton, often stiffened with metallic wire or coarse cord running through it, used as trimming for dresses, curtains, furniture, etc. Also guimpe.
2. (countable, uncountable) Any coarse or reinforced thread, such as a glazed thread employed in lacemaking to outline designs, or silk thread used as a fishing leader, protected from the bite of fish by a wrapping of fine wire.
3. (countable, uncountable) The plastic cord used in the plaiting and knotting craft scoubidou (lanyard making); or, the process itself.
4. (Northeastern, US, countable, dated, uncountable) Gumption.

Verb

1. Of yarn, cord, thread, etc., to wrap or wind (surround) with another length of yarn or wire in a tight spiral, often by means of a gimping machine, creating 'gimped yarn', etc. Also, generally, to wrap or twist with string or wire. See gimped.
2. (dated) To notch or indent; to jag or make jagged; to edge with serrations or grooves.

Verb

1. (informal, intransitive) To limp; to hobble.
2. (slang, transitive) To make underpowered; to limit or restrict the useful effects of.

Adj

Neat; trim; delicate; slender; handsome; spruce; elegant.

Concepts

boitement

boiter

nigaud

cul-de-jatte

gogo

ringardise

gimp

énergie

Synonymes

limp

hobble

claudication

limping

hitch

gimpiness

gameness

lameness

spirit

lace

cripple

energy

founder

galloon

braid

lame

nincompoop

simpleton

Traductions

canlılık

kaytan

neşe

ظلع

coixejar

ranquejar

عرِج

Einfaltspinsel

Elan

Gimpe

Krüppel

Schmiss

Schwung

ψυχή

Depp

Prononcé comme (IPA)

/ɡɪmp/

Étymologie (Anglais)

Appartenant à gallois: gwymp

In summary

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.