hamper (1)

[A corrupt. of hanaper (q. v.).] A large, coarsely-made.covered wicker-work basket, used for packing articles for carriage. sin, aş; expect, Xenophon, exist. ph = f. IMG:content-0941.jpg:[blocks in formation] pedes free action; a fetter. "Shackles, shacklockes, hampers , gives, and chaines.' Browne: Britannia's Pastorals , bk. i., s. 7. II. Naut .: Equipment and gear about the decks of a ve el. hăm-per (1), v . t . [Probably the same as hamble or hamel , from A. S. hamelian =to mutilate.] 1. To impede the motion or free action of; to shackle, to fetter. *2. To ensnare, to inveigle, to entangle. "She'll hamper thee, and dandle thee like a baby." Shakesp.: Henry VI ., Pt . II . , 1. 3. 3. To impede, to hinder, to embarra ; to perplex. "The emperors showed no disposition to ham per the general relations between the clergy and their flocks."- Gardiner & Mullinger : Introd . to Eng . Hist ., ch. i. *4. To hinder, to prevent, to put a stop to. "To snib be and hamper the harden e e of herte that reigned in the people."- Udall : Luke xxiv. 5. To put out of order; to derange the mechanism of. hăm-pěr (2), v. t. [HAMPER (1), s.] 1. To put into or inclose in a hamper. 2. To load with hamper. "If you were well hampered."- Bailey: Erasmus, p. 325. hăm'-shăc-kle, v. t. [Eng. ham, and shackle.] 1. Lit .: To fasten the head of an ox, horse, ., to one of its fore-legs, so as to prevent its straying or running away; to shackle. 2. Fig .: To hamper; to fetter; to embarra , to curb, to restrain. hăm-ster, s. [Ger. hamster; O. H. Ger. ham is tro, hamastro.] Zool.: Cricetus, a genus of Muridae (Mice), but distinguished from Mus itself by the presence of cheek pouches. Fo il in the Post-Tertiary.