imp

 
Pronunciation: /ɪmp/

noun

  • a small, mischievous devil or sprite.
  • a mischievous child: a cheeky young imp

verb

[with object]
  • repair a damaged feather in (the wing or tail of a trained hawk) by attaching part of a new feather.

Origin:

Old English impa, impe 'young shoot, scion', impian 'to graft', based on Greek emphuein 'to implant'. In late Middle English, the noun denoted a descendant, especially of a noble family, and later a child of the devil or a person regarded as such; hence a ‘little devil’ or mischievous child (early 17th century)