Cripple Explained

A cripple is a person or animal with a physical disability, particularly one who is unable to walk because of an injury or illness. The word was recorded as early as 950 AD, and derives from the Proto-Germanic krupilaz.^[1] The German and Dutch words Krüppel and kreupel are cognates.

By the 1970s, the word generally came to be regarded as pejorative when used for people with disabilities.^{[2] [3] [4] [5]} Cripple is also a transitive verb, meaning "cause a disability or inability". The word crippling is also used as an adjective. ^[6]

Reappropriation

See main article: Crip (disability term). In the same way that the term "queer" has been reappropriated by the gay rights movement, members of the disability rights movement have reclaimed words such as "cripple", "crip", and "gimp" to refer to themselves.^{[5] [7]} The cripple tribunal in Dortmund on 13 December 1981 was one of the main protest actions of the autonomous German disability movement (in confrontation with the established disability assistance) against human rights abuses in nursing homes and psychiatric hospitals, as well as against deficiencies of local public transport. Analogous to the Russell Tribunal by Amnesty International, the cripple tribunal has denounced human rights violations of disabled people.^[8]

Other usages

• The Crips street gang were so named when members started carrying a cane which gave the impression they were disabled.^[9]
• A cripple is a trimmer stud or joist which is shorter than full-length.^[10]
• A cripple is a goods wagon or a passenger coach which although safe to run on the railway, is not fit for use and requires a repair before it can be used in service. This could be a coal wagon with a hole in the floor (which would allow coal to fall out of the wagon), or a passenger coach with a broken window.^[11]

Notes and References

1. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=cripple Online Etymology Dictionary
2. Book: E. Eric John Miller. G. Geraldine V. Gwynne. A Life Apart: A Pilot Study of Residential Institutions for the Physically Handicapped and the Young Chronic Sick. 14 July 2013. 1 January 1972. Taylor & Francis. 41–. 9780422739108. GGKEY:QCP9JKZ8RPE.
3. Book: Barry S. Levy. Victor W. Sidel. Barry Levy. Victor Sidel. Social Injustice and Public Health. 14 July 2013. 25 August 2005. Oxford University Press. 978-0-19-988375-2. 147–.
4. Book: Reginald Nettles. Rochelle Balter. Multiple Minority Identities: Applications for Practice, Research, and Training. 14 July 2013. 2011. Springer Publishing Company. 978-0-8261-0703-9. 3–.
5. Book: John Richardson. Justin Powell. Comparing Special Education: Origins to Contemporary Paradoxes. 14 July 2013. 17 May 2011. Stanford University Press. 978-0-8047-7913-5. 264–.
6. Web site: Crippling Definition & Meaning. Dictionary.com.
7. Book: Susan Baglieri. Arthur H. Shapiro. Disability Studies and the Inclusive Classroom: Critical Practices for Creating Least Restrictive Attitudes. 14 July 2013. 2012. Routledge. 978-0-415-99372-2. 49–.
8. http://www.disabilityworld.org/01-03_02/news/tribunal.shtml cripple tribunal on disabilityworld.org
9. Web site: "Crip" Gang Knowledge. www.corrections.com. 2016-05-20. 24 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160424040344/http://www.corrections.com/articles/23876-crip-gang-knowledge. dead.
10. Web site: Anatomy of a Stud-Framed Wall. 2001-03-15. FineHomeBuilding. 2016-05-20. 14 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201114002558/https://www.finehomebuilding.com/2001/03/15/anatomy-of-a-stud-framed-wall. dead.
11. Web site: Glossary and Terminology. www.railway-technical.com. 2016-05-20. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141007220720/http://www.railway-technical.com/newglos.shtml. 2014-10-07.