General
lamp
What does lamp mean?
To punch or strike someone, generally a single hard hit rather than a sustained fight. Carries a flavour of 'they had it coming'.
"He kept mouthin off so I lamped him."
Origin
British slang since at least the early 1900s; spread well beyond Birmingham but stayed firmly in the Brummie vocabulary.
Frequently asked questions
What does lamp mean in slang?
To lamp someone means to hit them, usually with one decisive blow.
How do you use lamp in a sentence?
For example: "He lamped him one and walked off." It describes landing a single hard punch.
Is lamp rude or offensive?
It's informal British slang for violence rather than a slur, but it does describe hitting someone.
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