What is "hanaper"

Hanaper \Han"a*per\ (-[.a]*p[~e]r), n. [LL. hanaperium a large vase, fr. hanapus vase, bowl, cup (whence F. hanap); of German origin; cf. OHG. hnapf, G. napf, akin to AS. hn[ae]p cup, bowl. Cf. Hamper, Nappy, n.] A kind of basket, usually of wickerwork, and adapted for the packing and carrying of articles; a hamper.

Hanaper office, an office of the English court of chancery in which writs relating to the business of the public, and the returns to them, were anciently kept in a hanaper or hamper.
--Blackstone.

n. A kind of basket, usually of wickerwork, and adapted for the packing and carrying of articles; a hamper

Hanaper, properly a case or basket to contain a " hanap" ( O. Eng. kneels: cf. Dutch nap), a drinking vessel, a goblet with a foot or stem; the term which is still used by antiquaries for medieval stemmed cups. The famous Royal Gold Cup in the British Museum is called a "hanap" in the inventory of Charles VI of France of 1391.

The word "hanaper" ( Med. Lat. hanaperium) was used particularly in the English chancery of a wicker basket in which were kept writs and other documents.

From "hanaper" is derived the modern "hamper," a wicker or rush basket used for the carriage of game, fish, wine, etc. The verb " to hamper," to entangle, obstruct, hinder, especially used of disturbing the mechanism of a lock or other fastening so as to prevent its proper working, is of doubtful origin. It is probably connected with a root seen in the Icel. hemja, to restrain, and Ger. hemmen, to clog.

For another usage, see Alienation Office.