Definition of the word lameness

The word "lameness" originated from the Old English word "hlam;" it initially referred to physical infirmity or weakness, not specifically related to the legs or feet. Over time, the term "lameness" became associated with impaired mobility in the lower limbs, likely due to the prevalence of injuries and diseases affecting the legs of horses and other animals that were important in agriculture and transportation during medieval times. By the 14th century, the term "lameness" had acquired its modern meaning, particularly in the context of hoof and leg ailments in horses, which had significant consequences for productivity and profitability in agrarian economies. Today, "lameness" continues to be used in veterinary medicine to describe a wide range of lower limb disorders in animals, as well as in human medicine to describe various impairments in mobility and movement.