stamp English · revision 7611

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1200|origins=gem-pro *stampōną}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /stæmp/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English stampen, to pound, crush,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) probably an alteration under Scandinavian influence of earlier *stempen,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) [[inh|ang|stempan|t=to pound in a mortar]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from Proto-Germanic *stampōjanan,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) source also of Old Norse stappa, Dutch [[m|nl|stampen]] and German [[m|de|stampfen|t=to stamp the foot, pound]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It comes from a nasalized form of PIE [[ine-pro|*stebʰ-|alt=*stebh-|t=to support, place firmly]] (compare Greek stémbein, to trample).^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) Its senses were reinforced in Middle English by Old French [[m|fro|estamper|t=to stamp]], itself from Germanic.^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To pound, beat, crush or mash: about 1200, in ''Vices and Virtues''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To strike the foot down forcibly is from the mid-14th century (by 1340),^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) and to tread heavily from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) To strike an impression on something is from the 16th century,^(Hoad 1986) the late Middle English period in Word Origins.^(Cresswell 2021) The noun, a stamping tool, is from the mid-15th century,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) and a forcible downward blow with the foot from 1590.^(OED 1989) An official mark certifying that duty had been paid is from the 1540s,^(Etymonline) and the name passed in 1837 to adhesive labels issued by governments for the same purpose;^(Etymonline) Britain issued postage stamps under the Postage Act of 1839, and the United States under the Post Office Act of 1847.^(Etymonline) Character or kind, as in ''of the same stamp'', is a further sense.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1200 – to pound.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1340 – to stamp the foot.^(Cresswell 2021)

+ * mid-15th century – a stamping tool.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1540s – an official mark.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1590 – a blow with the foot.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1837 – an adhesive stamp.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To bring the foot down heavily, or walk with heavy steps.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(stamp on, stamp out)'' To put an end to or crush.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To mark or impress with a device, seal or design.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To crush or shape with a heavy tool or die.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A small adhesive label stuck to a letter or parcel to show that postage has been paid; a [[postage stamp]].^(Etymonline)

+ # A tool for making an impression, or the mark it makes.^(AHD)

+ # An official mark, seal or design showing approval or payment.^(AHD)

+ # The act of stamping with the foot.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[stampless]]

+ * [[stampable]]

+ * [[counterstamp]]

+ * [[misstamp]]

+ * [[prestamp]]

+ * [[rubber-stamp]]

+ * [[unstamped]]

+ * [[restamp]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[date stamp]]

+ * [[postage stamp]]

+ * [[rubber stamp]]

+ * [[stamping ground]]

+ * [[stampede]]

+ * [[step]]

+ * [[staff]]

+ * [[stomp]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The OED lists two rare unrelated nouns, a kind of dance music (14th century) and a pool (1338),^(OED 1989) and obsolete Scots stamp meant a trap or snare.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}