Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Lame \Lame\, a. [Compar. {Lamer}; superl. {Lamest}.] [OE. lame,
   AS. lama; akin to D. lam, G. lahm,OHG., Dan., & Sw. lam,
   Icel. lami, Russ. lomate to break, lomota rheumatism.]
   1.
      (a) Moving with pain or difficulty on account of injury,
          defect, or temporary obstruction of a function; as, a
          lame leg, arm, or muscle.
      (b) To some degree disabled by reason of the imperfect
          action of a limb; crippled; as, a lame man. ``Lame of
          one leg.'' --Arbuthnot. ``Lame in both his feet.'' --2
          Sam. ix. 13. ``He fell, and became lame.'' --2 Sam.
          iv. 4.

   2. Hence, hobbling; limping; inefficient; imperfect. ``A lame
      endeavor.'' --Barrow.

            O, most lame and impotent conclusion! --Shak.

   {Lame duck} (stock Exchange), a person who can not fulfill
      his contracts. [Cant]

; hence:

   {To play at ducks and drakes}, with property, to throw it
      away heedlessly or squander it foolishly and unprofitably.
      

   {Lame duck}. See under {Lame}.

Source : WordNet®

lame duck
     n : an elected official still in office but not slated to
         continue