Lame \Lame\ (l[=a]m), a. [Compar. Lamer (l[=a]m"[~e]r);
   superl. Lamest.] [OE. lame, AS. lama; akin to D. lam, G.
   lahm, OHG., Dan., & Sw. lam, Icel. lami, Russ. lomate to
   break, lomota rheumatism.]
   1.
      (a) Moving with pain or difficulty on account of injury,
          defect, or temporary obstruction of a function; as, a
          lame leg, arm, or muscle.
      (b) To some degree disabled by reason of the imperfect
          action of a limb; crippled; as, a lame man. "Lame of
          one leg." --Arbuthnot. "Lame in both his feet." --2
          Sam. ix. 13. "He fell, and became lame." --2 Sam. iv.
          4.
          [1913 Webster]

   2. Hence, hobbling; limping; inefficient; imperfect; as, a
      lame answer. "A lame endeavor." --Barrow.
      [1913 Webster]

            O, most lame and impotent conclusion! --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   Lame duck
      (a) (Stock Exchange), a person who can not fulfill his
          contracts. [Cant]
      (b) An elected politician who is completing a term after
          having been defeated at an election; also, an office
          holder who cannot or chooses not to run again for the
          same office; -- So called from the presumed lack of
          political power of one who is soon to be out of
          office.
      (b) Any office holder who is serving out a term after a
          replacement has been selected.
          [1913 Webster +PJC]