Definition of "hamper"

hamper¹

/ˈhæm.pə/

noun
plural hampers
1. A large basket, usually with a cover, used for the packing and carrying of articles or small animals.
2. (uncommon outside New England) A wicker or plastic basket specifically for holding laundry (from clothes hamper), as opposed to a covered wicker basket which is a true hamper.
3. (UK) A gift basket.
verb
third-person singular simple present hampers, present participle hampering, simple past and past participle hampered
1. (transitive) To put into a hamper.

hamper²

/ˈhæm.pə/

verb
third-person singular simple present hampers, present participle hampering, simple past and past participle hampered
1. (transitive) To put a hamper or fetter on; to shackle.
  Quotations
  Wife. Away George, away, raise the watch at Ludgate, and bring a Mittimus from the Iustice for this desperate villaine. Now I charge you Gentlemen, see the Kings peace kept. O my heart what a varlet's this to offer manslaughter vpon the harmlesse Gntlewoman?Cit. I warrant thee (sweet heart) wee'l haue him hampered.
  1607 (first performance), [Francis Beaumont], The Knight of the Burning Pestle, London: […] [Nicholas Okes] for Walter Burre, […], published 1613, Act III, signature F2, verso
  A lion hampered in a net.
  1692, Roger L’Estrange, “ (please specify the fable number.) (please specify the name of the fable.)”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […]
2. To impede in motion or progress.
  Quotations
  Engend'ring heats, these one by one unbind, Stretch their small tubes, and hamper'd nerves unwind.
  1712, Richard Blackmore, Creation: A Philosophical Poem
  They hamper and entangle our souls.
  a. 1694, John Tillotson, The Advantages of Religion
  NR Senior Programme Manager Adrian Elliott describes the progress to date: "The weather has played a big part in hampering the programme. We had the wettest autumn ever and a number of winter storms to contend with, [...]
  2020 April 8, Paul Stephen, “ECML dive-under drives divergence”, in Rail, page 44
noun
plural hampers
1. A shackle; a fetter; anything which impedes.
2. (nautical) Articles ordinarily indispensable, but in the way at certain times.
  Quotations
  One afternoon there was a mighty queer noise aloft, which set the men running in every direction. It was the main-t'-gallant-mast. Crash! it broke off just above the cap, and held there by the rigging, dashed with every roll from side to side, with all the hamper that belonged to it.
  1847 March 30, Herman Melville, Omoo: A Narrative of Adventures in the South Seas; […], London: John Murray, […]

Definition of "hamper"

hamper1

noun

verb

hamper2

verb

Quotations

Quotations

noun

Quotations

hamper¹

hamper²