crip·ple / ˈkripəl/ • n. 1. dated, offens. a person who is unable to walk or move properly because of disability or injury to their back or legs.2. a person who is disabled in a specified way: an emotional cripple.• v. [tr.] (often be crippled) cause (someone) to become unable to move or walk properly: a writer who was crippled by polio at the age of eleven. ∎  cause severe and disabling damage to (a machine). ∎  cause a severe and almost insuperable problem for: developing countries are crippled by their debts.DERIVATIVES: crip·pler / ˈkrip(ə)lər/ n.

cripple sb. OE. crypel, ME. crüpel, corr. to OLG. krupil; also OE. crēopel, ME. crēpel, corr. to MLG., MDu. krēpel, rel. to CREEP.
Hence as vb. XIII.