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tampion

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tam⋅pi⋅on

[tam-pee-uhn]
–noun
a plug or stopper placed in the muzzle of a piece of ordnance when not in use, to keep out dampness and dust.
Also, tompion.


Origin:
1425–75; late ME tampyon, var. of tampon < MF, nasalized var. of OF tapon, deriv. of tape plug < Gmc. See tap 2
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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tam·pi·on   (tām'pē-ən)   
n.  A plug or cover for the muzzle of a cannon or gun to keep out dust and moisture.

[Middle English, from Old French tampon, variant of tapon, rag for stopping a hole, of Germanic origin.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

tampion 
1430, "plug, bung," from M.Fr. tampon, nasalized variant of O.Fr. tapon "piece of cloth to stop a hole" (1382), a suffixed form of Frank. *tappo "stopper, plug," related to O.H.G. zapfo and O.E. tæppa "stopper" (see tap (2)). Meaning "wooden plug for the muzzle of a gun" (to keep out rain or seawater) is recorded from c.1625.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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