GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 2 definitions

1.       
   Imp (ĭmp), n. [OE. imp a graft, AS. impa; akin to Dan. ympe, Sw. ymp, prob. fr. LL. impotus, Gr.  engrafted, innate, fr.  to implant;  in +  to produce; akin to E. be. See 1st In-, Be.]
   1. A shoot; a scion; a bud; a slip; a graft. [Obs.]  Chaucer.
   
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   2. An offspring; progeny; child; scion. [Obs.]
   
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   The tender imp was weaned. Fairfax.
   
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   3. A young or inferior devil; a little, malignant spirit; a puny demon; a contemptible evil worker.
   
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   To mingle in the clamorous fray
   
   Of squabbling imps. Beattie.
   
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   4. Something added to, or united with, another, to lengthen it out or repair it, -- as, an addition to a beehive; a feather inserted in a broken wing of a bird; a length of twisted hair in a fishing line. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
   
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2.       
   Imp, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Imped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Imping.] [AS. impian to imp, ingraft, plant; akin to Dan. ympe, Sw. ympa, OHG. impfōn, impitōn, G. impfen. See Imp, n.]
   1. To graft; to insert as a scion. [Obs.]  Rom. of R.
   
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   2. (Falconry) To graft with new feathers, as a wing; to splice a broken feather. Hence, [Fig.]:  To repair; to extend; to increase; to strengthen; to equip. [Archaic]
   
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   Imp out our drooping country's broken wing. Shak.
   
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   Who lazily imp their wings with other men's plumes. Fuller.
   
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   Here no frail Muse shall imp her crippled wing. Holmes.
   
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   Help, ye tart satirists, to imp my rage
   
   With all the scorpions that should whip this age. Cleveland.
   
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