Definition of "lame"

a lame endeavour

a. 1678 (date written), Isaac Barrow, “(please specify the chapter name or sermon number). Of Industry in General”, in The Works of Dr. Isaac Barrow. […], volumes (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: A[braham] J[ohn] Valpy, […], published 1830–1831

O, most lame and impotent conclusion! […]

c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act II, scene i]

It is the remark of an ingenious writer, should a barbarous Indian, who had never seen a palace or a ship, view their separate and disjointed parts, and observe the pillars, doors, windows, cornices and turrets of the one, or the prow and stern, the ribs and masts, the ropes and shrouds, the sails and tackle of the other, he would be able to form but a very lame and dark idea of either of those excellent and useful inventions.

1801, Isaac Watts, The improvement of the mind, or A supplement to the art of logic

The ی consonant is our English y […] It is really a sad mistake for us, who possess this useful consonant, to adopt the lame expedient to which other languages are forced to have recourse, namely, the use of the vowel i, with or without the diaresis over it.

1856, J. W. Redhouse, An English and Turkish Dictionary‎, page xx

And if you don't want to lame your horse you must look sharp and get them [stones stuck in hooves] out quickly.

1877, Anna Sewell, Black Beauty: […], London: Jarrold and Sons, […]

Now her soul felt lamed in itself. It was her hope that was struck.

1913, D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence, chapter 6, in Sons and Lovers, London: Duckworth & Co. […]

You lames tryna clone my style and run wit it.

2011, Lil' Kim (lyrics and music), “Black Friday”

This rim involved a raised rolled edge on the rerebrace that was inserted into a raised lip on the lower lame of the pauldron. This lip allows the arm to rotate without the need for leather straps and can be clearly seen carved on to the effigy […]

2013, Paul F Walker, History of Armour 1100-1700, Crowood

These pauldrons are generally asymmetrical with the left pauldron wider than the right, which is cut away for the passage of the lance. It would be attached to the shoulder by points through a restored leather tab on the top lame at the apex […]

2015, Anne Curry, Malcolm Mercer, The Battle of Agincourt, Yale University Press, page 120