What is "damper"

damper \damp"er\ (d[a^]m"p[~e]r), n. That which damps or checks; as:

1. A valve or movable plate in the flue or other part of a stove, furnace, etc., used to check or regulate the draught of air.

2. A contrivance, as in a pianoforte, to deaden vibrations; or, as in other pieces of mechanism, to check some action at a particular time.

   Nor did Sabrina's presence seem to act as any damper at the modest little festivities.
   --W. Black.

of a piano, 1783; of a chimney, 1788; agent noun from damp (v.). Either or both led to various figurative senses.

a. (en-comparative of: damp) n. 1 Something that damps or checks: 2 # A valve or movable plate in the flue or other part of a stove, furnace, etc., used to check or regulate the draught of air. 3 # A contrivance (sordine), as in a pianoforte, to deaden vibrations; or, as in other pieces of mechanism, to check some action at a particular time. 4 # Something that kills the mood. 5 # A device that decreases the oscillations of a system. 6 (context chiefly Australia English) Bread made from a basic recipe of flour, water, milk, and salt, but without yeast.

1. n. a movable iron plate that regulates the draft in a stove or chimney or furnace

2. a device that decreases the amplitude of electronic, mechanical, acoustical, or aerodynamic oscillations [syn: muffler]

3. a depressing restraint; "rain put a damper on our picnic plans"

Damper is a traditional Australian soda bread, historically prepared by swagmen, drovers, stockmen and other travellers. It consists of a wheat flour based bread, traditionally baked in the coals of a campfire or in a in a camp oven. Damper is an iconic Australian dish. It is also made in camping situations in New Zealand, and has been for many decades.

Damper was originally developed by stockmen who travelled in remote areas for weeks or months at a time, with only basic rations of flour, sugar and tea, supplemented by whatever meat was available. The basic ingredients of damper were flour, water, and sometimes milk. Baking soda could be used for leavening. The damper was normally cooked in the ashes of the camp fire. The ashes were flattened and the damper was placed in there for ten minutes to cook. Following this, the damper was covered with ashes and cooked for another 20 to 30 minutes until the damper sounded hollow when tapped. Alternatively, the damper was cooked in a greased camp oven. Damper was eaten with dried or cooked meat or golden syrup, also known as "cocky's joy".

Damper is also a popular dish with Indigenous Australians. Aboriginal women had traditionally made bush bread from seasonal grains and nuts, which they cooked in the ashes of fires. It also became a popular dish for recreational campers and has become available in bakeries and some supermarkets. Many variations and recipes exist, some authentic, others using the name to sell a more palatable bread product to the urban public.

A damper is a valve or plate that stops or regulates the flow of air inside a duct, chimney, VAV box, air handler, or other air handling equipment. A damper may be used to cut off central air conditioning (heating or cooling) to an unused room, or to regulate it for room-by-room temperature and climate control. Its operation can be manual or automatic. Manual dampers are turned by a handle on the outside of a duct. Automatic dampers are used to regulate airflow constantly and are operated by electric or pneumatic motors, in turn controlled by a thermostat or building automation system. Automatic or motorized dampers may also be controlled by a solenoid, and the degree of air-flow calibrated, perhaps according to signals from the thermostat going to the actuator of the damper in order to modulate the flow of air-conditioned air in order to effect climate control.

In a chimney flue, a damper closes off the flue to keep the weather (and birds and other animals) out and warm or cool air in. This is usually done in the summer, but also sometimes in the winter between uses. In some cases, the damper may also be partly closed to help control the rate of combustion. The damper may be accessible only by reaching up into the fireplace by hand or with a woodpoker, or sometimes by a lever or knob that sticks down or out. On a wood-burning stove or similar device, it is usually a handle on the vent duct as in an air conditioning system. Forgetting to open a damper before beginning a fire can cause serious smoke damage to the interior of a home, if not a house fire.

A damper is a device that deadens, restrains, or depresses.

Damper may refer to:

• Dashpot, a type of hydraulic or mechanical damper,
• Shock absorber (British or technical use: damper), a mechanical device designed to dissipate kinetic energy
• In electronics, a kind of diode, intended to absorb energy peaks, normally generated by inductive circuitry

In music:

• A device in various keyboard instruments for deadening the vibrations of the strings
• A mute for various brass instruments, see: Mute (music)
• A damper or sustain pedal, a device that mutes musical tones, particularly in stringed instruments

In structures:

• Damper (mast), a device that damps oscillation in radio masts and towers for better protection against storms
• Tuned mass damper, a device mounted in structures to prevent discomfort, damage or structural failure by vibration
• Damper (flow), a mechanical device in a duct or chimney that regulates airflow
• Stockbridge damper, used to suppress wind-induced vibrations on taut cables

Damper may also refer to:

• Damper (food), soda bread of the Australian Outback
• Damper, an item of boiler technology used to regulate the fire