▪ I. ˈvamping, n. Mining.
(See quot.)
| 1881 Raymond Mining Gloss., Vamping, the débris of a stope, which forms a hard mass under the feet of the miner. |
▪ II. vamping, vbl. n.1
(ˈvæmpɪŋ)
[f. vamp v.1]
1. The action of the vb., in lit. and fig. senses.
| 1599 Minsheu Sp. Dict., Cabe{cced}ado,..the vamping or putting to the instops to bootes. 1680 Vind. Conforming Clergy (ed. 2) 50 It had certainly been a far more honest..Employment for him to have..hired a Stall, and set himself bodily to Vamping of Boots. 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey) s.v. Vamps, To graft a new Footing on old Stockings is still call'd Vamping. 1773 Foote Bankrupt iii, Political papers should bear vamping; like sermons, change but the application and text, and they will suit all persons and seasons. 1819 Jeffrey in Cockburn Life (1852) II. 187, I have just got done with another Review... I have more vamping and patching than writing. 1850 Carlyle Latter-d. Pamph. vii. (1872) 233 The mere vamping-together of hostile veracities. 1860 All Year Round No. 72. 508 No vamping of him up into a severe ancient Roman will do. |
b. attrib. (in sense 3 of the vb.).
| c 1890 (title), Reeves' Vamping Tutor.—The Art of Extemporaneous Accompaniment or playing by ear on the Piano. 1905 Church Times 30 June 842/4 Those strange, long, keyless trumpets, called vamping-horns. 1908 F. Bond Screens & Galleries 147 One of the strangest instruments of the old choirs is the vamping trumpet. |
2. Tramping, trudging. rare.
| 1661 K. W. Conf. Charac. (1860) 46 His quick motion and speedy vamping from place to place..makes him smell like a traveller. |
▪ III. ˈvamping, vbl. n.2
[f. vamp v.3 + -ing1.]
Seductive behaviour; acting as a vamp.
| 1904 [see vamp v.3 1]. 1918 N.Y. Times 15 July 9 Nancy tries her ‘vamping’ tactics on him and he confesses his crime. |
▪ IV. ˈvamping, ppl. a.
[f. vamp v.1]
That vamps, in senses of the vb.
| a 1616 Beaum. & Fl. Bonduca i. ii, Do you hope to triumph, Or dare your vamping valour, goodman Cobler, Clap a new soul to th' kingdom? 1737 M. Green Spleen 163 Whose easy vamping talent lies, First wit to pilfer, then disguise. 1765 Sterne Tr. Shandy vii. xxix, A pert, vamping chaise-undertaker..demanded if Monsieur would have his chaise refitted. |