Hypertext Webster Gateway: "mayhem"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Maim \Maim\, n. [Written in law language {maihem}, and
{mayhem}.] [OF. mehaing. See {Maim}, v.]
1. The privation of the use of a limb or member of the body,
by which one is rendered less able to defend himself or to
annoy his adversary.
2. The privation of any necessary part; a crippling;
mutilation; injury; deprivation of something essential.
See {Mayhem}.
Surely there is more cause to fear lest the want
there of be a maim than the use of it a blemish.
--Hooker.
A noble author esteems it to be a maim in history
that the acts of Parliament should not be recited.
--Hayward.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Mayhem \May"hem\, n. [The same as maim. See {Maim}.] (Law)
The maiming of a person by depriving him of the use of any of
his members which are necessary for defense or protection.
See {Maim}.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
mayhem
n 1: the willful and unlawful crippling or mutilation of another
person
2: violent and needless disturbance [syn: {havoc}]
Additional Hypertext Webster Gateway Lookup
Gateway by dict@stokkie.net
stock only wrote the gateway and does not have any control over the contents;
see the Webster Gateway FAQ,
and also the Back-end/database links and credits.