gimps

Noun (1)

gimp (countable and uncountable, plural gimps)

1. 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.
   • They sat about in black and shiny and flouncey clothing adorned with gimp and beads, eating great quantities of cake, drinking much tea in a stately manner and reverberating remarks.1908, H[erbert] G[eorge] Wells, “Of Bladesover House, and My Mother; and the Constitution of Society”, in Tono-Bungay […], Toronto, Ont.: The Macmillan Company of Canada, Ltd., →OCLC, 1st book (The...
2. 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.
   • 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, published 2007, page 87
3. The plastic cord used in the plaiting and knotting craft scoubidou (lanyard making); or, the process itself.
4. (Northeastern, US, dated) Gumption.
   • Love them and encourage them, but put some 'gimp' into them.1898, Charles Frederick Wingate, What Shall Our Boys Do for a Living?, page 255

   Synonyms:

   spirit, ambition, vigor, pep

Noun (2)

gimp (plural gimps)

1. (informal) A person who is lame due to a crippling of the legs or feet.
   • (person)

   Synonyms:

   cripple, disabled

2. (informal) A crippled leg.

See all 15 meanings of gimp