1. To injure, disable, or disfigure, usually by depriving of the use of a limb or other part of the body. See synonyms at batter¹.
2. To make imperfect or defective; impair.

[Middle English maimen, from Old French mahaignier. See mayhem.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.