Bring out the Gimp

[nelson pique]

Does anyone know the origin of the word Gimp? The first time I heard it was in the film Pulp Fiction. I was told it was Nottinghamshire slang for someone who is hard of thinking, but I have only heard it in reference to a bondage/sex slave type person as in the film.

[Quizmonster]

The word 'gimp' has lots of meanings. One is an Americanism, probably developed from 'gammy', meaning a cripple. I haven't seen the film, so I don't know whether this is the one which applies. Was the sex slave crippled in any way?

[nelson pique]

The gimp in Pulp Fiction is wearing a sort of leather body stocking with an attached gag and dog collar with a chain by which he is teathered. He is also kept in a prisoner in a box. So, although not actually lame his is somewhat incapacitated. I've just remembered another possible film reference( I think...willing to be corrected on this one), The Usual Suspects, in which Kevin Spacey's character is refered to as a gimp and he is lame.

Cheers Quizmaster. I recomend the film by the way and Usual Suspects if you've not seen that aswell.

[Quizmonster]

I've seen 'The Usual Suspects' but cannot recall the use of the word 'gimp'. Spacey was, indeed, a cripple, albeit a pretend one!
(By the way - and I wouldn't even bother to mention it but for the fact that there is an AnswerBank member called Quizmaster - I'm Quizmonster. Cheers)

[nelson pique]

Sorry Quizmonster, blame my miopia.

[Narolines]

The only context in which I have met the word "gimp" is in furniture making - it's a flat braid used in upholstery and secured in place by gimp pins, which you will find for sale in your local d-i-y superstore! But my dictionary also gives a limping gait/ a person who limps/ to walk with a limp (origin unknown).

[Quizmonster]

As I said, I didn't see the film Pulp Fiction, but - from what I've heard/read of it - I don't believe there was a lot of upholstering going on!!

[Azimov]

Firstly, thank's QM for giving away a vital plot twist in the movie :)
And secondly, where I work (in a cinema) we have a huge contraption that looks like an oversized lawnmower in black and yellow plastic.
Ppicture a horseshoe crab painted black on top and yellow around the edges with a U shaped handle for pushing and you won't be far off!
We shove it around the foyer and corridor to pick up dropped popcorn so I guess it's just a big carpet sweeper.

Anyway, we call that "the Gimp" but nobody seems to know or remember how it came by it's nickname!
My personal theory is, it was named after the Pulp Fiction character because it's kept locked in a cupboard, it's only brought out when needed and absolutely everybody hates it.

[Quizmonster]

Aw, come on, Azimov...The Usual Suspects has been around for eleven years! Will it be spoiling it if I tell everyone that Hamlet never was able to make his mind up to action until it was far too late?
I like your carpet-sweeper 'gimp', however.

[Kingaroo]

In the US I have heard of a gimp as a lame person, I always thought it had to do with limp. If a sex slave costume had leg shackles, the person might walk with a limp. (Hearing about that character give me one more reason I don't want to see Pulp Fiction, besides the brain spattering and the apalling lack of upholstering scenes. I loved The Usual Suspects though.)

Gimp is also the flat plastic ribbon you braid to make lanyards at summer camp. I've gathered from multiple AB postings that you Brits call it "scoobiedoo" or "scoubie." Must be related to the upholstering braid that Narolines mentioned.