vamp English · revision 1260

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /væmp/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The shoe word is [[inh|enm|vampe|t=part of a stocking covering the foot]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[bor|xno|vampe]],^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) a shortening of [[fro|avantpié]], [[af|fro|avant|pié|t1=before|t2=foot]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) the latter from [[la|pēs|t=foot]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) The word for a seductive woman is a shortening of [[vampire]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The part of hose or stockings that covers the foot and ankle (before 1225).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the 17th century the word came to mean the upper front part of a shoe or boot (1654).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) The verb, “to provide with a new vamp”, was extended to patching up or refurbishing anything (1632), especially old literary material,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) and to improvising a musical accompaniment (1789).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The unrelated ''vamp'' “seductive woman who exploits men” appears in the early 20th century^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate) and was popularized by Theda Bara's role as “The Vampire” in the 1915 film ''A Fool There Was'';^(Etymonline) it was used as a verb by 1918.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1225 – the foot of a stocking.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1599 – verb, to furnish with a vamp.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1632 – to patch up or refurbish.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1654 – the upper front part of a shoe.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1789 – to improvise a musical accompaniment.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1911 – a seductive woman who exploits men.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1918 – verb, to attract and exploit (a man).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The part of a [[shoe]] or [[boot]] upper that covers the [[instep]] and sometimes the toes.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Something patched up or pieced together from old material.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A short, simple, often improvised musical passage repeated as an [[accompaniment]] or introduction.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A woman who uses her charm to [[seduce]] and exploit men.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To provide (a shoe) with a new vamp.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # To patch up or [[refurbish]]; also, to invent or fabricate, as in ''vamp up an excuse''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To [[improvise]] a simple accompaniment.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To seduce or exploit in the manner of a vamp; to act as a vamp.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[vamper]]

+ * [[vampish]]

+ * [[vampishly]]

+ * [[vampy]]

+ * [[revamp]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[vampire]]

+ * [[avaunt]]

+ * [[vanguard]]

+ * [[pedal]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}