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Webster 1913 Edition
Hamper
Ham′per
(hăm′pẽr)
, Noun.
[Contr. fr.
hanaper
.] A large basket, usually with a cover, used for the packing and carrying of articles;
as, a
hamper
of wine; a clothes hamper
; an oyster hamper
, which contains two bushels.Ham′per
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Hampered
(-pẽrd)
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Hampering
.] To put in a hamper.
Ham′per
,Verb.
T.
[OE.
hamperen
, hampren
, prob. of the same origin as E. hamble
.] To put a hamper or fetter on; to shackle; to insnare; to inveigle; to entangle; hence, to impede in motion or progress; to embarrass; to encumber.
“Hampered nerves.” Blackmore.
A lion
hampered
in a net. L’Estrange.
They
hamper
and entangle our souls. Tillotson.
1.
A shackle; a fetter; anything which impedes.
W. Browne.
2.
(Naut.)
Articles ordinarily indispensable, but in the way at certain times.
Ham. Nav. Encyc.
Top hamper
(Naut.)
, unnecessary spars and rigging kept aloft.
Webster 1828 Edition
Hamper
HAM'PER
,Noun.
1.
A large basket for conveying things to market, &c.2.
Fetters, or some instrument that shackles.[This signification and that of the verb following indicate that this word is from hanaper, and that the latter is from the sense of interweaving twigs.]
HAM'PER
,Verb.
T.
A lion hampered in a net.
1.
To ensnare; to inveigle; to catch with allurements.2.
To tangle; to render complicated.3.
To perplex; to embarrass. Hampered by the laws.