To pronounce the sibilant letter ‘s’ imperfectly; to give ‘s’ and ‘z’ the sounds of ‘th’ (IPA:/θ ð/) — a defect common amongst children.
To speak with imperfect articulation; to mispronounce, as a child learning to talk.
Alexander PopeAs yet a child, nor yet a fool to fame, I lisped in numbers, for the numbers came.
To speak hesitatingly and with a low voice, as if afraid.
DraytonLest when my lisping, guilty tongue should halt.
To utter with imperfect articulation; to express with words pronounced imperfectly or indistinctly, as a child speaks; hence, to express by the use of simple, childlike language.
Tyndaleto speak unto them after their own capacity, and to lisp words unto them according as the babes and children of that age might sound them again
To speak with reserve or concealment; to utter timidly or confidentially.to lisp treason
