noun · uncountable · rare

mayhem

may·hem

халепа, біда, горе

хаос, разгром, беспорядок, нанесение увечья

Chaos, Verstümmelung

The criminal offence of maiming a person such that their ability to defend or protect…The criminal offence of maiming (“seriously wounding”) a person such that their ability to defend or protect themselves is weakened or completely removed; (countable) an instance of this.

ⓘ

UK/ˈmeɪhɛm/US/ˈmeɪˌ(h)ɛm/

» Let the mayhem begin.

Meaning

4 senses

(UK, historical, uncountable, usually)The criminal offence of maiming (“seriously wounding”) a person such that their ability to defend or protect themselves is weakened or completely removed; (countable) an instance of this.
to commit mayhem
Verstümmelung
изуве́чениеizuvéčenije, искале́чениеiskaléčenije
(US, broadly, uncountable, usually)The criminal offence of maiming a person by depriving them of the use of any of their limbs.
(figuratively, uncountable, usually)Often preceded by to cause or make: great confusion, destruction, disorder, or trouble; chaos, turmoil; (countable) an instance of this.
In all the mayhem, some children were separated from their parents.
What if the legendary hero Robin Hood had been born into the mayhem of the 20th century?
Chaos
беспоря́докbesporjádok, разгро́мrazgróm, ха́осxáos
(figuratively, uncountable, usually)Violent conduct, especially the violent infliction of injury on a person or thing.
The fighting dogs created mayhem in the flower beds.
нанесе́ние уве́чьяnanesénije uvéčʹja

More definitions

the willful and unlawful crippling or mutilation of another person
violent and needless disturbance

Examples

4 sentences

Let the mayhem begin.
CC BY 2.0 FR · Tatoeba · CK · C1Open on Tatoeba Report a problem
There is no reason for such mayhem.
ruЭтому бедламу нет оправдания. — shanghainese
CC BY 2.0 FR · Tatoeba · Dejo · C1Open on Tatoeba Report a problem
Tom was arrested for aggravated assault and mayhem.
CC0 · Tatoeba · shekitten · C1Open on Tatoeba Report a problem
It was complete mayhem.
ruЦарил полный хаос. — odexed
CC BY 2.0 FR · Tatoeba · CM · C1Open on Tatoeba Report a problem

Translations

8 languages

Русский

By meaning 3

criminal offence of maiming a person such that their ability to defend or protect themselves is weakened or completely removed; an instance of this:

great confusion, destruction, disorder, or trouble; instance of this:

violent conduct, especially the violent infliction of injury:

Deutsch

By meaning 2

criminal offence of maiming a person such that their ability to defend or protect themselves is weakened or completely removed; an instance of this:

great confusion, destruction, disorder, or trouble; instance of this:

Origin

The noun is derived from Late Middle English mayehem, maihem, a late form of maym, maim (“

The noun is derived from Late Middle English mayehem, maihem, a late form of maym, maim (“disfigurement, injury, mutilation; disfigured person”) (whence modern English maim (noun)), from Anglo-Norman mahaim, mahainne (“mutilation”), and Old French mehaing, meshaing (“bodily harm, loss of limb”).

Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source