The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Cripple \Crip"ple\ (kr[i^]p"p'l), n. [OE. cripel, crepel,
   crupel, AS. crypel (akin to D. kreuple, G. kr["u]ppel, Dan.
   kr["o]bling, Icel. kryppill), prop., one that can not walk,
   but must creep, fr. AS. cre['o]pan to creep. See Creep.]
   One who creeps, halts, or limps; one who has lost, or never
   had, the use of a limb or limbs; a lame person; hence, one
   who is partially disabled.
   [1913 Webster]

         I am a cripple in my limbs; but what decays are in my
         mind, the reader must determine.         --Dryden.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Cripple \Crip"ple\, (kr[i^]p"p'l), n. [Local. U. S.]
   (a) Swampy or low wet ground, often covered with brush or
       with thickets; bog.

             The flats or cripple land lying between high- and
             low-water lines, and over which the waters of the
             stream ordinarily come and go.       --Pennsylvania
                                                  Law Reports.
   (b) A rocky shallow in a stream; -- a lumberman's term.
       [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Cripple \Crip"ple\ (kr[i^]p"p'l), a.
   Lame; halting. [R.] "The cripple, tardy-gaited night."
   --Shak.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Cripple \Crip"ple\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Crippled (-p'ld); p.
   pr. & vb. n. Crippling (-pl?ng).]
   1. To deprive of the use of a limb, particularly of a leg or
      foot; to lame.
      [1913 Webster]

            He had crippled the joints of the noble child. --Sir
                                                  W. Scott.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To deprive of strength, activity, or capability for
      service or use; to disable; to deprive of resources; as,
      to be financially crippled.
      [1913 Webster]

            More serious embarrassments . . . were crippling the
            energy of the settlement in the Bay.  --Palfrey.
      [1913 Webster]

            An incumbrance which would permanently cripple the
            body politic.                         --Macaulay.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

cripple
    n 1: someone who is unable to walk normally because of an injury
         or disability to the legs or back
    v 1: deprive of strength or efficiency; make useless or
         worthless; "This measure crippled our efforts"; "Their
         behavior stultified the boss's hard work" [syn: cripple,
         stultify]
    2: deprive of the use of a limb, especially a leg; "The accident
       has crippled her for life" [syn: cripple, lame]