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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Imp

Ĭmp, n.

noun

n. [Dan. ympe, Sw. ymp. See infra.]

Sense 1. A shoot; a scion; a bud; a slip; a graft. [Obs.]

When the cliff was made, they held it open with a wedge of wood, until such time as the imp, or graft, . . . were set handsomely close within the rift. Holland.

Sense 2. An offspring; progeny; child. [Obs.]

Those most virtuous and goodly young imps, the Duke of Suffolk and his brother. Bacon.

The tender imp was weaned. Fairfax.

Sense 3. A young or inferior devil; a little, malignant spirit; a little demon; a contemptible evil-worker.

To mingle in the clamorous fray Of squabbling imps. Beattie.

Sense 4. Something added to, or united with, another to lengthen 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.] Nares. Halliwell.

Imp, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [ĭmp. & p. p. IMPED (ĭmpt); p. pr. & vb. n. IMPING.] [A-S. impan, impian, to imp, ingraft, plant, Dan. ympe, Sw. ympa, O. H. Ger. imphōn, impfōn, M. H. Ger. impfeten, impeten, N. H. Ger. impfen, D. enten, Fr. enter, from Gr. ἐμφυτεύειν, to plant in, from ἐν, in, and φυτεύειν, to plant; or perhaps from Lat. prefix im, for in, and putare, to prune, lop; L. Lat. impotus, sprout.]

  1. To graft; to insert as a scion. [Obs.] Chaucer.
  2. To insert as a feather into a broken wing; to extend or mend, as a broken or deficient wing, by the insertion of a feather, and the like; hence, to increase, to strengthen, to plume; to qualify for flight or use. “Imp out our country’s broken wings.” Shak.

Who lazily imp their wings with other men’s plumes, wherewith they soar high in common esteem. Fuller.