Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

HAMP, v., n.¹

I. v. 1. To stutter, to stammer (Lth. 1808 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); to read with difficulty or with many mispronunciations or hesitations (Cld. 1825 Jam.; Ayr.⁴ 1928; Rxb. 1956).Edb. 1782 N.B. Weekly Mag. (27 Nov.) 91:
Ane hamps away, that's gleg o' sight, We sit and hear.Gall. 1796 J. Lauderdale Poems 80:
How it came, I searce ean tell, I learnt a wee to hamp an spell.Rxb. 1821 A. Scott Poems 51:
Ye mind auld stories I can hamp but at.Slk. 1847 W. Crozier Cottage Muse 64:
Hampin' an' spellin', on I gaed, Doun to the fit.s.Sc. 1871 H. S. Riddell Poet. Wks. I. 5:
If ye 'bout it hamp and hay, My gontrans, lass, ye soon will fin' A wilfu' man maun hae his way.

Hence hamper, one who cannot read fluently and makes mistakes in pronunciation (Cld. 1825 Jam.; Ayr.⁴ 1928).

2. To limp or walk haltingly (Twd. 1825 Jam.). Also in Eng. dial.

II. n. 1. A stutter, stumble in speech (Lth. 1808 Jam.).Slk. 1829 Hogg Shep. Cal. (1874) xii.:
[He] wan . . . through the saxteenth o' the Romans, without a hamp.

2. A limp (Twd. 1825 Jam .).