Definify.com

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.

Ham′per

,
Noun.
[See
Hamper
to shackle.]
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.
[contracted form hanaper, or from hand pannier.]
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.
[See the Noun.] To shackle; to entangle; hence, to impede in motion or progress, or to render progress difficult.
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.