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hamper

Pronunciation: /ˈhæm.pə/

The English word “hamper” has 8 meanings listed here.

noun

  1. A large basket, usually with a cover, used for the packing and carrying of articles or small animals.
  2. A wicker or plastic basket specifically for holding laundry (from clothes hamper).
  3. A gift basket.
  4. A shackle; a fetter; anything which impedes.
  5. Articles ordinarily indispensable, but in the way at certain times.

verb

  1. To put into a hamper.
  2. To put a hamper or fetter on; to shackle.
  3. To impede in motion or progress.

Etymology

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 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…

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.