Stamp act, an act of the British Parliament [1765] imposing a duty on
all paper, vellum, and parchment used in the American colonies, and
declaring all writings on unstamped materials to be null an void. --
Stamp collector, an officer who receives or collects stamp duties; one
who collects postage or other stamps. -- Stamp duty, a duty, or tax,
imposed on paper and parchment used for certain writings, as deeds,
conveyances, etc., the evidence of the payment of the duty or tax being
a stamp. [Eng.] -- Stamp hammer, a hammer, worked by power, which rises
and falls vertically, like a stamp in a stamp mill. -- Stamp head, a
heavy mass of metal, forming the head or lower end of a bar, which is
lifted and let fall, in a stamp mill. -- Stamp mill (Mining), a mill in
which ore is crushed with stamps; also, a machine for stamping ore. --
Stamp note, a stamped certificate from a customhouse officer, which
allows goods to be received by the captain of a ship as freight. [Eng.]
-- Stamp office, an office for the issue of stamps and the reception of
stamp duties.
Stam*pede" (?), n. [Sp. estampida (in America) a stampede, estampido a
crackling, akin to estampar to stamp, of German origin. See Stamp, v.
t.] A wild, headlong scamper, or running away, of a number of animals;
usually caused by fright; hence, any sudden flight or dispersion, as of
a crowd or an army in consequence of a panic.
She and her husband would join in the general stampede.
W. Black.
<! p. 1402 !>
Stam*pede" (?), v. i. To run away in a panic; -- said droves of cattle,
horses, etc., also of armies.
Stam*pede", v. t. To disperse by causing sudden fright, as a herd or
drove of animals.
Stamp"er (?), n. 1. One who stamps.