两者均有指使人肢体致残而丧失战斗力的含义。区别在于 maiming现已经逐渐演变为专指使肢体致残的伤害行为（或对动物的残害） 。而mayhem则指致残罪行，即有意的致人永久性残废或毁容之犯罪（offence)。此外，mayhem的内涵比maim广泛，按美国Model Penal Code以及适用该示范法典的各州的刑法典之规定，mayhem现除包括maiming所指的伤害行为外，还包括“暴力胁迫”（assault)和“加重情节的暴力胁迫”（aggravated assault)行为等[2]。

[1]“Inflicting upon a person any injury which deprives him of the use of any limb or member of the body, or renders him lame or defective in bodily vigor.”Cf. Bryan A. Garner, Black's Law Dictionary, 7th edition, at p. 657, West Group (1999).

[2]“Under the Modern Penal Code and the codes of the states that follow it, mayhem is encompassed by assault and aggravated assault. " Cf. Linda Picard Wood, J. D. , Merriam Webster's Dictionary of Law, at p. 309，Merriam-Webster，Incorporated (1996 ).