impedimenta

American  

[im-ped-uh-men-tuh] / ɪmˌpɛd əˈmɛn tə /

plural noun

1. baggage or other things that retard one's progress, as supplies carried by an army.

   the impedimenta of the weekend skier.

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impedimenta British  

/ ɪmˌpɛdɪˈmɛntə /

plural noun

1. the baggage and equipment carried by an army

2. any objects or circumstances that impede progress

3. a plural of impediment

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Etymology

Origin of impedimenta

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin: literally, “traveling gear, luggage, baggage,” plural of impedīmentum impediment

Example Sentences

Mr. Grossman photographed the hirsute quartet juxtaposed against a jungle of television cameras, amplifiers and other backstage impedimenta, and he shot from the balcony to capture their electrifying effect on the audience.

From New York Times • Jan. 5, 2023

Astor Place had the impedimenta landlords left on the sidewalk after old tenants died.

From New York Times • Oct. 15, 2020

Between the driver and passenger seats there was a large, raised, shag-pile-carpeted area, which I was using to lay out my various writerly impedimenta: voice recorder, notebook, pens and so forth.

From New York Times • Feb. 9, 2017

The Hughes impedimenta were trucked to the Nassau airport and loaded aboard a C46 transport that flew to Fort Lauderdale, refueled, then took off for Managua.

From Time Magazine Archive

I walk up it, and with a certain amount of difficulty work my unwieldy body and my various impedimenta through it, assisted by the two engineers who have been starting up the engines from inside.

From 'Green Balls' The Adventures of a Night-Bomber by Bewsher, Paul