Vamping
/ˈvæmpɪŋ/noun
The act of improvising or delaying, especially in music or performance; also the present participle of vamp.
Did you know?In jazz and theater, a vamp is a repeated musical figure used to stretch time, and the word ultimately comes from a term for a shoe’s upper part—something built onto the front, just like a performer builds on a small loop.
Etymological Timeline
Old French
OF
avanter
“to move forward, promote, or bring ahead”
Middle English
EN
avauncen
“to advance or profit; later, to put forward”
Late 16th Century
EN
vamp
“the upper part of a shoe, especially a new piece added to repair it”
19th Century
EN
vamp
“to improvise or patch something together; in music, to repeat a short accompaniment”
Modern English
EN
vamping
“improvising, delaying, or repeating a musical figure”