mayhem

One entry found for mayhem.

Main Entry: may·hem
Pronunciation: 'mA-"hem, 'mA-&m
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English mayme, mahaime, from Anglo-French mahaim mutilation, mayhem, from maheimer, mahaigner to maim, probably of Germanic origin; akin to Middle High German meiden gelding, Old Norse meitha to injure
1 a : willful and permanent deprivation of a bodily member resulting in the impairment of a person's fighting ability b : willful and permanent crippling, mutilation, or disfigurement of any part of the body
2 : needless or willful damage or violence