hamper
Plural: hampers
Noun
- a restraint that confines or restricts freedom (especially something used to tie down or restrain a prisoner)
- a basket usually with a cover
- A large basket, usually with a cover, used for the packing and carrying of articles or small animals.
- A wicker or plastic basket specifically for holding laundry (from clothes hamper), as opposed to a covered wicker basket which is a true hamper.
- A gift basket.
- A shackle; a fetter; anything which impedes.
- Articles ordinarily indispensable, but in the way at certain times.
Verb
Verb Forms: hampered, hampering, hampers
- To hinder or impede the movement or progress of.
- prevent the progress or free movement of
- "He was hampered in his efforts by the bad weather"
- put at a disadvantage
- To put into a hamper.
- To put a hamper or fetter on; to shackle.
- To impede in motion or progress.
Examples
- a clothes hamper
- a hamper of wine
- an oyster hamper, which contains two bushels
- Competition pigeons are hampered for the truck trip to the point of release where the race back starts.
- His opponent tried to HAMPER his scoring ability by leaving only difficult connections.
Origin / 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 hnæpp (“bowl”). More at nap.
Synonyms
bond, cramp, halter, handicap, hinder, shackle, strangle, trammel, disable#Verb, embarrass#Verb, encumber#Verb, handicap#Verb, hinder#Verb, impair#Verb
Scrabble Score: 13
hamper: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Wordhamper: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
hamper: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary