Английский Этимологический словарь - lame (adj.)

- O.E. lama, from P.Gmc. *lamon "weak-limbed." Sense of "socially awkward" is attested from 1942. Lame-duck was originally (18c.) "any disabled person or thing;" modern sense of "public official serving out term after an election" first recorded 1863 in Amer.Eng., attributed to Vice President Andrew Johnson, in reference to Col. Forney. Lamebrain (n.) is first recorded 1929.