gimp
See also: GIMP
English
Etymology 1
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.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ɡɪmp/
- Rhymes: -ɪmp
Noun
gimp (countable and uncountable, plural gimps)
- 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.
- 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.
- 1936, Djuna Barnes, Nightwood, Faber & Faber 2007, p. 87:
- I'm a fisher of men and my gimp is doing a saltarello over every body of water to fetch up what it may.
- 1936, Djuna Barnes, Nightwood, Faber & Faber 2007, p. 87:
- The plastic cord used in the plaiting and knotting craft Scoubidou (lanyard making); or, the process itself.
- (dated, chiefly North Eastern US) Gumption
- 1924, Booth Tarkington, The Midlander, page 219:
- When people put a lot on what their folks used to do, it always means they haven't got gimp enough left to do anything themselves.
Related terms
Translations
Verb
gimp (third-person singular simple present gimps, present participle gimping, simple past and past participle gimped)
- (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.
- 1856, Campbell Morfit, A Treatise on Chemistry Applied to the Manufacture of Soap and Candles, page 435 with illustration
- It consists of seventy fine spun cotton threads, gimped or tied around with thread by a machine similar to that for wrapping bonnet wire.
- 1856, Campbell Morfit, A Treatise on Chemistry Applied to the Manufacture of Soap and Candles, page 435 with illustration
- (dated) To notch or indent; to jag or make jagged; to edge with serrations or grooves.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ɡɪmp/
- Rhymes: -ɪmp
Noun
gimp (plural gimps)
- (informal) A person who is lame due to a crippling of the legs or feet.
- (informal) A crippled leg.
- (informal) A limp or a limping gait.
- 1934, Damon Runyon, Madame La Gimp:
- She walks with a gimp in one leg, which is why she is called Madame La Gimp...
- 1934, Damon Runyon, What, No Butler?:
- ...Flat-wheel Walter...who is called by this name because he walks with a gimp on one side...
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- (slang, derogatory) A name-calling word, generally for a person who is perceived to be inept, deficient or peculiar
- (BDSM) A sexual submissive, almost always male, dressed generally in a black leather suit. See Gimp (sadomasochism) in Wikipedia.
Synonyms
Translations
Verb
gimp (third-person singular simple present gimps, present participle gimping, simple past and past participle gimped)
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /dʒɪmp/
- Rhymes: -ɪmp
Adjective
Quotations
- For quotations of use of this term, see Citations:gimp.
References
- 1846, John T. Brockett, A Glossary of North Country Words, page 190
Anagrams
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