French word

boiter

Pronunciation

IPA/bwate/

Meaning

  • verblimp

Example

Je boite depuis la chute.

I have been limping since the fall.

Illustration for boiter (limp)

More examples

Elle a commencé à boiter après la course.

She began limping after the race.

Core concept

One side of a walk falls out of step as pain or weakness limits the leg.

Common phrases

  • se mettre à boiter

    begin to limp

  • boiter sur une jambe

    limp on one leg

  • boiter après une blessure

    limp after an injury

Similar words

clopiner: To walk with a mild limp when pain or instability makes weight-bearing difficult.
claudiquer: To walk awkwardly and without a steady rhythm because one side is affected.

Definition in French

Avancer en marchant irrégulièrement parce qu'un pied ne s'appuie pas normalement, par douleur ou par faiblesse.

Word origin

Boiter is an inherited French verb from Old French boiter, with boiteux as a related derivative in the same lexical family.

Usage tips

  • Boiter does not by itself specify that a foot is dragged; traîner le pied states that dragging explicitly.

Related words

  • boiteuxlameadjective
  • boitementlimpnoun

Word lists with this word