tamp
[tamp]
- to force in or down by repeated, rather light, strokes: He tamped the tobacco in his pipe.
- (in blasting) to fill (a drilled hole) with earth or the like after the charge has been inserted.
Show More
Origin of tamp
First recorded in 1810–20; perhaps alteration of tampion
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for tamping
Contemporary Examples
But behind the scenes, senate aides have been tamping down expectations for a quick fix.
The lingering financial crisis, the sequester, and ill-timed austerity are tamping down jobs growth.
Robotic Technologies Could Aggravate the U.S. Problem of Slow Jobs GrowthRobert Shapiro
July 19, 2013
Historical Examples
The view Fig. 52 shows the "perforator" and the tamping apparatus at work.
Concrete ConstructionHalbert P. Gillette
In slab work, the concrete is best compacted by tamping or rolling.
Concrete ConstructionHalbert P. Gillette
The cost of laying and tamping the concrete on the vaulting was 14 cts.
Concrete ConstructionHalbert P. Gillette
He put in the powder and tamping, and asked the other to hand him the tamping-bar.
Deep Down, a Tale of the Cornish MinesR.M. Ballantyne
"You guessed it," said Russ, tamping the tobacco into the bowl.
EmpireClifford Donald Simak
tamping
tamping mad
- (postpositive) South Wales dialect very angry
Show More
Word Origin
see tamp 1
tamp1
- to force or pack down firmly by repeated blows
- to pack sand, earth, etc into (a drill hole) over an explosive
Show More
Word Origin
C17: probably a back formation from tampin (obsolete variant of tampion), which was taken as being a present participle tamping
tamp2
- (tr) to bounce (a ball)
- (intr usually foll by down) to pour with rain
Show More
Word Origin
probably special use of tamp 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for tamping
tamp
v.
1819, "to fill (a hole containing an explosive) with dirt or clay before blasting," a workmen's word, perhaps a back-formation from tampion, that word being mistaken as a present participle (*tamping).
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper