lam

¹

[ lam ]

verb (used with object)

, lammed, lam·ming.

1. to beat; thrash.

verb (used without object)

, lammed, lam·ming.

1. to beat; strike; thrash (usually followed by out or into ).

lam

²

[ lam ]

noun

1. a hasty escape; flight.

verb (used without object)

, lammed, lam·ming.

1. to run away quickly; escape; flee:

   I'm going to lam out of here as soon as I've finished.

lām

³

[ lahm ]

noun

1. the 23rd letter of the Arabic alphabet.

Lam

⁴

[ lahm, lam ]

noun

1. Wi·fre·do [wi-, frey, -doh] or Wil·fre·do [wil-, frey, -doh], 1902–82, Cuban painter in Europe.

lam.

⁵

abbreviation for

1. laminated.

Lam.

⁶

abbreviation for

, Bible.

1. Lamentations.

Lam.

¹

abbreviation for

1. Lamentations

lam

²

/ læm /

noun

1. a sudden flight or escape, esp to avoid arrest
2. on the lam
   1. making an escape
   2. in hiding

verb

1. intr to escape or flee

lam

³

/ læm /

verb

1. tr to thrash or beat
2. intr; usually foll by into or out to make a sweeping stroke or blow

Word History and Origins

Origin of lam¹

1590–1600; < Old Norse lamdi, past tense of lemja to beat; akin to lame ¹

Origin of lam²

1885–90; special use of lam ¹. Compare beat it! be off!

Origin of lam³

From Arabic; lambda

Word History and Origins

Origin of lam¹

C19: perhaps from lam ¹(hence, to be off)

Origin of lam²

C16: from Scandinavian; related to Old Norse lemja

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on the lam, escaping, fleeing, or hiding, especially from the police:

   He's been on the lam ever since he escaped from jail.

2. take it on the lam, to flee or escape in great haste:

   The swindler took it on the lam and was never seen again.

More idioms and phrases containing lam

see on the lam .

Example Sentences

What follows are musical snapshots of an artist, who on the lam from himself, hones a style that will forever change the landscape of modern music.

From Los Angeles Times

Durst may have never faced a Galveston, Texas jury if he hadn’t been caught trying to steal a grocery store sandwich while he was on the lam.

From Salon

The two animals on the lam caused an unusual traffic jam Saturday afternoon as they wove through slowing traffic and then stopped it on Interstate 90 in the downtown Cleveland area.

From Seattle Times

Since the macaque went on the lam, his fate had drawn reporters who waited nearby for updates on the monkey’s location.

From New York Times

While these “outlaws” are on the lam and resisting capture, everyday folks are rooting for them as they try to beat the system.

From Salon