hamper

Meanings

Noun

• 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

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

Origin

• From Middle English hamper, contracted from hanaper, hanypere, from Anglo-Norman hanaper, Old French hanapier, hanepier, from hanap, from Frankish *hnapp, from Proto-Germanic *hnappaz. Cognate with Old High German hnapf (German Napf), Dutch nap, Old English hnæpp. More at nap.
• From Middle English hamperen, hampren, probably of the same origin as English hamble, Scots hamp, Dutch haperen, German hemmen. More at hamble.