maim

maim v. to inflict a serious bodily injury, including mutilation or any harm which limits the victim's ability to function physically. Originally, in English Common Law it meant to cut off or permanently cripple a bodily member like an arm, leg, hand, or foot. In criminal law, such serious harm becomes an "aggravated" assault, which is a felony subject to a prison term. (See: mayhem)

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maim verb cripple, damage, deface, disable, hobble, hurt, impair, incapacitate, injure, lame, make useless, wound

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See also: damage, disable, harm, injure, mutilate, prejudice

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MAIM, pleadings. This is a technical word necessary to be introduced into all indictments for mayhem; the words "feloniously did maim," must of necessity be inserted, because no other word, or any circumlocution, will answer the same purpose. 4 Inst. 118; Hawk. B. 2, c. 23, s. 17, 18, 77; Hawk. B. 2, c. 25, s, 55; 1 Chit. Cr. Law, *244.

TO MAIM, crim. law. To deprive a person of such part of his body as to render him less able in fighting or defending himself than he would have otherwise been. Vide Mayhem.