n. & v.
n. 1 a small part or quantity intended to show what the whole is like. 2 a small amount of fabric, food, or other commodity, esp. given to a prospective customer. 3 a specimen, esp. one taken for scientific testing or analysis. 4 an illustrative or typical example.
v.tr. 1 take or give samples of. 2 try the qualities of. 3 get a representative experience of. sample bag Austral. an (orig. free) bag of advertisers' samples.
[ ME f. AF assample, OF essample EXAMPLE ]