Main Entry:

may·hem

Pronunciation:

\ˈmā-ˌhem, ˈmā-əm\

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

Date:

15th century

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 body2: needless or willful damage or violence