Is 'gimpy' derogatory?

[Blu]

And what does it mean?
On 100 Greatest Films last night, Nemo was described as being 'gimpy' because of his small fin.
Nemo is triumph in our house, because he 'just happens' to have a small fin, and DS has a small foot/leg - is 'gimpy' neagtive?

I'd never heard of it before so did a quick Google. It seems to be used to mean disabled, uneven or to describe something/someone who has difficulty getting around.

From what I can see opinion seems to be divided as to whether it's derogatory (can't say I like the sound of the word myself tbh). A couple of places descrbe it as an informal term. Others as being derogatory. Hopefully someone who has heard it used IRL will know.

Seems to be one of those things that has been around for ages as a valid term for someone with a limp, or a disability, but its slowly coming to be used in a derogatory way.

well 'gimp' is certainly derogatory so i would say yes. I think it kind of means a bit 'slow'.

i dont think it is

Hm - think it might be negative - I had always thought of it as harmless but if you google cripple along with gimp you get some pretty negative entries...

However found this website - wheelchair junkie - with some very feisty comments about language, PC and otherwise, from wheelchair users including "I prefer to be refered to by my first name or just simply, "the guy in the chair." Gimp works for me as well.I'm not comfortable with cripple either." and "I believe physically challenged is PC but gimp works for me too".

So maybe gimp is OK?

Where i come from it is extremely derogatory and offensive.
Defo a very unpleasant term.

NOUN:

1. A limp or a limping gait.
2. A person who limps.

intr.v.
gimped , gimp·ing , gimps

To walk with a limp.

OTOH - another post from the same thread - "GIMP in these parts is a very condescending word reserved for idiots and morons AB or not. For me, cripple is clear it says something is broke..which it is." (Person from Buffalo, NY.)

Where do you come from, Donbean?

Up north.

Of England that is, are you USA?

UK north?

I've never heard it used in this country (but I suppose I don't get out much).

No, I'm UK too. That website is international -posts from all over - it mentions that there was still a Crippled Childrens Society in South Africa last year (they were talking about changing it then).

definately derogatory.

gawd i never thought it was a derogatory term :9 i thought it was the skinny tall kid in the class with freckles (ie. me)

gimp Noun. 1. A contemptible person, a fool.
2. A sex slave, particularly one dressed in black leather apparel of a sexual nature, or similar style.

There is a gimp in the film pulp fiction as described in the second example
Ok, confession, i use it as a jokey insult all the time. Not stemming from the original definition of someone with a limp, just from the you dickhead bet you where a leather mask and get pulled around by a chain.

Ohhhh, like gimp mask???

That's separate, isn't it? (Or is it....gawd, language is a minefield.)

I've only ever heard 'gimp' as derogatory term in Pulp Fiction style, never heard 'gimpy'.

yep like gimp mask janh, soooooo you know about those do you?

I've seen pictures

I never thought I'd see the day when sex slaves got a mention on the SN board!

Nemo is a sex-slave?

i thought it meant ff's second definition.....not heard it being used as an offensive word.....

So, it seems that interpretation is mixed / divided enough to make an e mail to Channel 4 a bit of an over-reaction?

I'm with ff and fio2 - my dh uses it all the time and I'm sure I have . I just always understood it to kind of mean a geeky idiot - with maybe the insinuation that they would be the kind of person to be a gimp (of the masked sex slave kind) though not specifically that.

Had no idea it came from a person with a limp....or disability .

Isn't language amazing? Do you think the sex-slave 'gimp' has the same root?

Yeah, but that's it - they described his little fin as 'gimpy', not too good if it means 'geeky idiot'.