2. An offspring; progeny; child; scion. [Obs.]
The tender imp was weaned. --Fairfax.
3. A young or inferior devil; a little, malignant spirit; a
puny demon; a contemptible evil worker.
To mingle in the clamorous fray Of squabbling imps.
--Beattie.
4. Something added to, or united with, another, to lengthen
it out or repair it, -- as, an addition to a beehive; a
feather inserted in a broken wing of a bird; a length of
twisted hair in a fishing line. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
2. (Falconry) To graft with new feathers, as a wing; to
splice a broken feather. Hence, Fig.: To repair; to
extend; to increase; to strengthen to equip. [Archaic]
Imp out our drooping country's broken wing. --Shak.
Who lazily imp their wings with other men's plumes.
--Fuller.
Here no frail Muse shall imp her crippled wing.
--Holmes.
Help, ye tart satirists, to imp my rage With all the
scorpions that should whip this age. --Cleveland.