Hamper

From Middle English hamper, contracted from hanaper, hanypere, from Anglo-Norman hanaper, Old French hanapier, hanepier ("case for holding a large goblet or cup"), from hanap ("goblet, drinking cup"), from Old Frankish *hnapp ("cup, bowl, basin"), from Proto-Germanic *hnappaz ("cup, bowl"). Cognate with Old High German hnapf ("cup, bowl, basin") (German Napf ("bowl")), Dutch nap ("cup"), Old English hnæpp ("bowl"). More at nap.

Alternative forms

• hampire

Full definition of hamper

Noun

1. A large basket, usually with a cover, used for the packing and carrying of articles or small animals; as,
• a hamper of wine
• a clothes hamper
• an oyster hamper, which contains two bushels

Verb

1. (transitive) To put into a hamper.''Competition pigeons are hampered for the truck trip to the point of release where the race back starts

From Middle English hamperen, hampren ("to hamper, oppress"), probably of the same origin as English hamble ("to limp"), Scots hamp ("to halt in walking, stutter"), Dutch haperen ("to falter, hesitate"), German hemmen ("to stop, hinder, check"). More at hamble.

Verb

1. (transitive) To put a hamper or fetter on; to shackle; to ensnare; to inveigle; hence, to impede in motion or progress; to embarrass; to encumber.
• Blackmore:Hampered nerves.
• Roger L'Estrange:A lion hampered in a net.
• John Tillotson:They hamper and entangle our souls.

Noun

1. A shackle; a fetter; anything which impedes.
2. (nautical) Articles ordinarily indispensable, but in the way at certain times.

Derived terms

• Top hamper, (Nautical): unnecessary spars and rigging kept aloft.