# vamp

> English word · Noun · IPA /væmp/ · frequency rank #34,741

## Definitions
1. The top part of a boot or shoe, above the sole and welt and in front of the ankle seam, that covers the instep and toes; the front part of an upper; the analogous part of a stocking.
2. Something added to give an old thing a new appearance.
3. Something patched up, pieced together, improvised, or refurbished.
4. A repeated and often improvised accompaniment, usually consisting of one or two measures, often a single chord or simple chord progression, repeated as necessary, for example, to accommodate dialogue or to anticipate the entrance of a soloist.
5. An activity or speech intended to fill or stall for time.

## Etymology
From Middle English vaumpe, vaum-pei, vampe (“covering for the foot, perhaps a slipper or understocking; upper of a boot or shoe”), or from Anglo-Norman vampe, *vaumpé (“part of a stocking covering the top of the foot”), from Old French avantpied, avantpiet, variants of avantpié, from avant (“in front”) + pié (“foot”).
Noun senses 2 and 3 (“a patch; something patched up or improvised”) appear to have been extended from sense 1 (“top part of a boot or shoe”). Sense 4 (“repeated and often improvised musical accompaniment”) was probably derived from sense 3, and sense 5 (“activity to fill or stall for time”) from sense 4.
The verb senses were derived from the noun. Compare also Middle English vaum-peien (“(uncertain) to repair (footwear) with a new upper or vamp; to fabricate an upper or vamp”).

## Easily confused with
- **VP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vamp-vs-vp)
- **VM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vamp-vs-vm)
- **van** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vamp-vs-van)
- **VIP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vamp-vs-vip)
- **VAR** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vamp-vs-var)
- **vat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vamp-vs-vat)
- **vas** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vamp-vs-vas)
- **vax** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vamp-vs-vax)
- **vom** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vamp-vs-vom)
- **vim** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vamp-vs-vim)
- **vast** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vamp-vs-vast)
- **vary** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vamp-vs-vary)
- **vase** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vamp-vs-vase)
- **vape** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vamp-vs-vape)
- **vane** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vamp-vs-vane)
- **VoIP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vamp-vs-voip)
- **veep** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vamp-vs-veep)
- **vamps** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vamp-vs-vamps)
- **VA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/va-vs-vamp)
- **val** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/val-vs-vamp)

## Common misspellings (6)
`avmp`, `vammp`, `vampp`, `vapm`, `vmap`, `vvamp`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/vamp