Limpy

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Moving with a hobbling or uneven gait, as if favoring an injured leg
2. Walking in an unsteady manner with a noticeable irregularity in stride
3. Proceeding on foot in a halting way that suggests pain or stiffness in the legs

Etymology: "Limpy" is simply "limp" with the adjective-forming suffix "-y" attached, the same ending found in words like "bumpy" or "scrappy." The base "limp" describes an uneven, lame way of walking, and adding "-y" turns it into a description of something or someone who walks that way, or who seems to be inclined to. The construction is entirely transparent: no sound change or shift of meaning is involved, so the word means just what its two parts suggest.

Synonyms: limping, hobbling, halting

Antonyms: steady, smooth, fluid