From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:
mayhem
n 1: the willful and unlawful crippling or mutilation of another
person
2: violent and needless disturbance [syn: havoc]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Maim \Maim\, n. [Written in law language maihem, and
mayhem.] [OF. mehaing. See Maim, v.]
1. The privation of the use of a limb or member of the body,
by which one is rendered less able to defend himself or to
annoy his adversary.
[1913 Webster]
2. The privation of any necessary part; a crippling;
mutilation; injury; deprivation of something essential.
See Mayhem.
[1913 Webster]
Surely there is more cause to fear lest the want
there of be a maim than the use of it a blemish.
--Hooker.
[1913 Webster]
A noble author esteems it to be a maim in history
that the acts of Parliament should not be recited.
--Hayward.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
mayhem \may"hem\, n. [The same as maim. See Maim.]
1. (Law) The maiming of a person by depriving him of the use
of any of his members which are necessary for defense or
protection. See Maim.
[1913 Webster]
2. Violent disorder, especially such as causes serious harm
to persons or damage to property.
[PJC]