To impede in motion or progress; render motion or progress difficult to; shackle; entangle; restrain by force.Hence To impede in any way; embarrass; encumber; restrain; perplex.To derange or put out of working order, as a piece of mechanism.To beat.n. A fetter or some instrument that shackles.n. Nautical, things collectively, which, though necessary to the equipment of a ship, are in the way at certain times: as, to stow away the top hamper.n. A kind of basket or wickerwork receptacle, generally of considerable size, chiefly used as a packing-case.n. A two-bushel basket for oysters.n. A measure for fish holding about a bushel.n. Same as hanaper, 4.To put into a hamper: as, to hamper goods.To load with hampers.