Maim


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maim

v. to inflict a serious bodily injury, including mutilation or any harm which limits the victim's ability to function physically. Originally, in English Common Law it meant to cut off or permanently cripple a bodily member like an arm, leg, hand, or foot. In criminal law, such serious harm becomes an "aggravated" assault, which is a felony subject to a prison term. (See: mayhem)

Copyright © 1981-2005 by Gerald N. Hill and Kathleen T. Hill. All Right reserved.

MAIM, pleadings. This is a technical word necessary to be introduced into all indictments for mayhem; the words "feloniously did maim," must of necessity be inserted, because no other word, or any circumlocution, will answer the same purpose. 4 Inst. 118; Hawk. B. 2, c. 23, s. 17, 18, 77; Hawk. B. 2, c. 25, s, 55; 1 Chit. Cr. Law, *244.

TO MAIM, crim. law. To deprive a person of such part of his body as to render him less able in fighting or defending himself than he would have otherwise been. Vide Mayhem.

A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States. By John Bouvier. Published 1856.
References in periodicals archive ?
Israel does not claim the actual 'right' to maim in the way it claims a right to self-defense and a right to kill in warfare.
Ross (1974), both unmentioned in Madonnas that Maim, that the "vast majority of middle- and upper-class children in Florence were being handed over to balie, or wet nurses, within a few days of birth." (p.
Nineteen of the The device, was designed and maim number of people Det Supt Jonathan concert-goers died at the scene while three were rushed to hospital, but pronounced dead shortly afterwards, the inquests were told.
Police last night said the device was "designed to kill or maim".
Gazan rockets: The worldas media shows no difference between barbarians who kill innocent people and an army for a democratic civilized nation that kills people trained to destroy harm and maim.http://a7.org/pictures/298/298205.jpg' style="float:right;" />
terrorists and conspiracy to murder, kidnap, maim and injure persons in a
Hazel, of Erdington, sent a hand-written note to his local Co-op store in July last year, threatening to "kill and maim" three people in the shop if the money was not paid.
"We must not relax our efforts to combat the scourge of illicit small arms and light weapons, which continue to kill, maim and displace scores of thousands of innocent people every year." So declared UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on July 11, 2005, at the conclusion of the UN's Second Biennial Meeting of States to Consider the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.
Golden has joined the conversation, making it painfully clear that African Americans have internalized intraracism and used it to psychologically maim each other and ourselves.
In the entertainment world, where many sell their souls to the god of controversy in order to get noticed--not caring which groups of people they trample over and maim in the process--it's nice to know that there are intelligent, sensitive young artists like Justin who prove that you can be cool, talented, a little edgy, and compassionate.
Each day, these hidden weapons kill or maim some 60 people.
''They can maim or kill and we are appealing to parents who have access to airguns to be vigilant and make sure their children are properly supervised, particularly over the school holidays.