▪ I. kemp, n.1 Obs. exc. dial.
Forms: 1 cempa, (cæmpa), 2 cempe, 3–5 kempe, (3 kimppe), 4–6, 9, kemp.
[OE. cęmpa wk. masc. = OFris. kempa, kampa, OS. *kempio (MDu. kemp(e, kimp(e, MLG. kempe), OHG. chemph(i)o (MHG. kempfe; G. kämpe, from LG., for earlier kämpfe):—WGer. *kampjōn-. It is doubtful whether this is an independent formation from kamp- (camp n.1) battle, or ad. late L. campiōn-em (see campion).]
1. A big, strong, and brave warrior or athlete; a professional fighter, wrestler, etc.; a champion.
| a 700 Epinal Gloss. 481 Gladiatores, caempan [Erfurt cempan]. 995 Death of Byrhtnoth 119 Him æt fotum feoll fæᵹe cempa. a 1175 Cott. Hom. 243 Gif we ofercumed heom we scule bien imersed alle gode cempen. a 1225 Ancr. R. 196 Iðe vihte aȝeines ham, heo biȝiteð þe blisfule kempene crune. c 1300 Havelok 1036 He was for a kempe told. c 1350 Will. Palerne 3352 Oþer kud kempes. 1470–85 Malory Arthur vii. viii, They rasshed to gyders lyke two myghty kempys. 1527 Ld. Treas. Acc. Scotl. in Pitcairn Crim. Trials I. *271 Item, to John Drummond, callit the kingis kemp..xv li. 1562 Winȝet Tractates Wks. 1888 I. 33 Albeit thir twa ȝoure kempis dar not for schame ansuer in this mater. 1818 Scott Burt's Lett. N. Scotl. I. Introd. 62 Hammer Donald..(like Viga Glum and other celebrated Kemps and homicides of the North). 1832 Motherwell Poems (1847) 7 In starkest fight where kemp to kemp, Reel headlong to the grave. 1893 Northumbld. Gloss., Kemp, an impetuous youth. |
2. = kemper a.
| 1573 Satir. Poems Reform. xlii. 276 All the corne of the Countrie Be kempis hes not bene schorne, we see. |
3. Sc. A seed-stalk of the ribwort (Plantago lanceolata), used in a children's game: see quot. 1825. [So Norw. kjæmpe, Sw. kämpa.] Cf. cocks.
| 1825 Jamieson s.v., Two children, or young people, pull each a dozen of stalks of rib-grass; and try who with his kemp, can decapitate the greatest number of those belonging to his opponent. 1853 G. Johnston Nat. Hist. E. Bord. I. 170 It is customary with children to challenge each other to try the ‘kemps’. 1893 in Northumbld. Gloss. |
▪ II. kemp, n.2
(kɛmp)
[app. the same as camp n.4, a. ON. kamp-r beard, moustache, whisker of a cat, lion, etc.]
A coarse or stout hair, as those of the eyebrows (obs.); now, hair of this kind occurring among wool. Also in comb. kemp-hair; kemp-haired a.
| c 1386 Chaucer Knt.'s T. 1276 Lik a grifphon looked he aboute, With kempe [v.r. keempe] heeris on hise browes stoute. 1570 Levins Manip. 59/45 Kemp, haire, grande⁓bala. 1641 Best Farm. Bks. (Surtees) 9 To cutt of all the shaggie hairy woll..this the shepheardes call forcinge of them, and cuttinge of kempe-haires. Ibid. 11 Sheepe which..are thinne skinn'd..or kempe-hair'd. 1805 J. Luccock Nat. Wool 170 Its staple was perfectly free from kemps and wild hair, so common upon the backs of northern sheep. 1849 Rowlandson in Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc. Eng. X. ii. 436 The fineness of the Ryeland fleece and freedom from kemps. |
▪ III. † kemp, n.3 Obs. rare.
? A barrel or cask.
| 1391 Earl Derby's Exp. (Camden) 77/22 Pro ij kempes de rubiis allecibus. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 270/2 Kempe of herynge, or spyrlynge. |
▪ IV. † kemp, n.4 Obs. rare.
A kind of eel.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 270/2 Kempe eel [no Latin]. 1515 Barclay Egloges iv. (1570) C iv b/2 Fed..with crudd, Or slimy kempes ill smelling of the mud. 1552 Huloet, Kempe or small eale, anguilula. 1884 Day Brit. Fishes II. 243. |
▪ V. kemp, n.5 Sc.
[f. kemp v.]
A contest, esp. of reapers when kemping.
| 1786 Har'st Rig in Chambers Pop. Hum. Scot. Poems (1862) 50 The master..cries with haste, ‘Come, lads, forbear, This kemp let be’. 1844 Richardson Borderer's Table Bk. VII. 372 The stormy Kemp, or emulous struggle for the honour of the ridge-end. 1870 Hunter Stud. Pref. (E.D.D.), What ever lesson we began to, we gaed at it just like a kemp on the hairst rig. |
▪ VI. kemp, v. Sc. and north. dial.
(kɛmp)
[ME. kempen = MDu. kempen, kimpen, LG. kämpen, OHG. chemfan (MHG. kempfen, G. kämpfen), ON. keppa (:—*kempa; Sw. kämpa, Da. kæmpe):—OTeut. *kampjan, f. kamp-: see camp n.1 and kemp n.1]
intr. a. To fight or contend in battle with another. b. To contend or strive in doing a piece of work; said esp. of a set of reapers striving to finish their ‘rig’ first.
| a. ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 2634 There is no kynge undire Criste may kempe with hym one! 1893 Northumbld. Gloss. s.v. Kemps, They are called by children kemps..and are used to kemp or fight with. |
| b. 1513 Douglas æneis iii. x. 20 We..kempand with airis in all our mane, Wp welteris watter of the salt se flude. 1685 Lintoun Green (1817) 95 (E.D.D.) [She] could..kemp wi' Kate or Wull, On harvest day. 1786 Har'st Rig in Chambers Pop. Hum. Scot. Poems (1862) 48 This sets the lave a-working fast—They kemp at length. a 1881 Carlyle in Mrs. C.'s Lett. (1883) II. 192 His reapers had taken to ‘kemp’ and spoiled him much stuff. |