▪ I. † champian, -ion, a. and n. Obs.
In 6 -yon, 6–8 -ion, -ian.
[A variant of champaign, -pain, found as an attrib. or adj. form in Ld. Berners, early in 16th c., and towards the end of that century also as a n.; during the 17th c. it was much more frequent in both uses than champagne. Champyon, -ion, was the earlier form; champian was perh. assimilated to adjs. and ns. in -ian.]
A. n.
1. An expanse of level open country; a plain unbroken by hills, woods, etc.; = champaign 1.
| 1589 Greene Menaph. (Arb.) 23 Menaphon looking over the champion of Arcadie. 1601 R. Johnson Kingd. & Commw. (1603) 109 It hath larger champians than Lyguria. 1611 Bible Deut. xi. 30 The Canaanites, which dwell in the champion. a 1687 Petty Pol. Arith. (1690) 14 If it were a plain Champion. 1699 W. Dampier Voy. II. i. ii. 19 With some gentle risings, that make it a fine pleasant champian. |
2. (without pl. or article) as a species of land or landscape; = champaign 2.
| 1573 Tusser Husb. (1878) 16 In woodland, in Champion, Citie, or towne. 1601 Shakes. Twel. N. ii. v. 173 Daylight and champian discouers not more. 1653 Holcroft Procopius ii. 39 Finding all open champian about the Towns there. 1702 W. J. tr. Bruyn's Voy. Levant i. 1 The Country round about is all Champian. |
3. (with the; without pl.) The level open country, as distinct from the mountains or woods, or the town; = champaign 3.
| 1579 Gosson Sch. Abuse (1841) 20 They that never went out of the champion in Brabant will hardly conceive what rocks are in Germany. 1700 Sir H. Chauncy Hist. Hertfordsh. (1826) I. 59 Henxworth is seated in the Champion upon a rising Ground. 1704 Swift Battle Bks. (1750) 32 They cackle loud and flutter o'er the Champian. |
4. The open unenclosed land as distinguished from that partitioned into fields; the moor, fell, or down on the top of a hill; land held in common; a large common; = champaign 4.
| 1611 Cotgr., Meze, an vntilled wast, or champian, wherein many seuerall mens cattell runne. 1669 Worlidge Syst. Agric. (1681) 13 Advantages, that Enclosure yields, above the Champion and Field-Land. |
b. transf. A farmer of such land.
| 1573 Tusser Husb. (1878) 34 New fermer may enter (as champions say) on all that is fallow, at Lent ladie day. |
5. The level open country as the chief scene of military operations; = champaign 5.
| 1579 Fenton Guicciard. ii. (1599) 85 After the King was entred, he dispersed his men of warre into the champion. 1658 S. Lennard tr. Charron's Wisd. iii. iii. §35 (1670) 377 The plain Champion is good for the Cavalry. |
b. Hence, A field of battle; the ‘field’.
| c 1611 Chapman Iliad xii. 29 The dusty champian, where many a helm and shield..were strew'd. 1627 Drayton Agincourt 87 And many a noble Gentleman that day, Weltring in gore, on the wilde Champion lay. 1640 Gent Knave in Gr. ii. i. One of us twaine, or both..On this cold earth, this very Champion, shall Offer up a crimson sacrifice of his most precious blood. |
6. A ‘field’ of inquiry, study, etc.
| 1596 Spenser State Irel. 26 The abuses of customes; in which, mee seemes, you have a faire champian layde open unto you. 1631 R. H. Arraignm. Whole Creature xii. §5. 136 To expatiate a little into a Champian and Field of matter. |
B. adj. (or attrib. use of n.)
1. Of the nature of a champaign: level and open; = champaign a. 2.
| 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. xviii. 22 There about was some champyon countrey, with corne and medowes. 1577 B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. (1586) 8 b, A holsome place..some part of it champion, some hilly. 1633 P. Fletcher Pisc. Ecl. i. i, And change his mountains to a champion lea. 1736 Bailey Househ. Dict. 555 In champion countries. |
2. fig. Level, equal.
| 1642 Fuller Holy & Prof. St. iii. xxv. 233 That all Offices should be made champian for their profits, none higher than other. |
† 3. Agric. Of land: Unenclosed, common, as distinct from ‘several’ or ‘enclosed’. Obs.
| [1523 Fitzherb. Husb. §68 To kepe..the damme at harde meate in the house, as they vse in the playne champyon countrey.] 1580 Tusser Husb. (1878) 50 Good land that is seuerall, crops may haue three, in champion countrie it may not so bee. 1621 Burton Anat. Mel. Democr. (1678) 8/1 Here champion, there inclosed. 1725 Bradley Fam. Dict., Inclosures generally maintain treble the Number of Inhabitants, or more, than the Champion Ground. 1727–51 Chambers Cycl., Champion, or rather champain-Lands, are lands not inclosed. |
b. Of or pertaining to unenclosed land.
| 1580 Tusser Husb. (1878) 2 Of Champion husbandrie now doo I write. |
▪ II. champian, -pine
obs. ff. champain.