Claudicate

/klɔːˈdɪkeɪt/ verb

Definition

To limp or walk with difficulty; to be lame or move unevenly due to an injury or disability.

Etymology

From Latin claudicare 'to limp,' derived from claudus 'lame,' a root that also appears in 'claudication' and emperor Claudius's name.

Kelly Says

This medical term preserves a Latin verb that's been used for over 2,000 years to describe lameness—Galen, the famous Roman physician, used 'claudicare' to describe injured soldiers, making it one of medicine's oldest technical terms.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.