expression, godan verb (-ku)
limp; walk with a limp
Describes an uneven gait due to injury or disability. The phrase is a fixed expression using びっこ (limp) and 引く (pull).
彼は足を怪我して、びっこを引いている。
He injured his leg and is limping.
Standard kana spelling; the kanji 跛 is rare and not needed in everyday use.
Kanji form using 跛, which is uncommon and may not be recognized by many readers.
Also means 'to drag one's foot' or 'limp', but びっこを引く is a more colloquial, fixed expression specifically for limping.
The word びっこ is a mimetic or sound-symbolic term for limping, possibly related to the way an uneven gait sounds or looks. The exact origin is uncertain.