decamp, v.
(dɪˈkæmp)
[a. F. décamper, earlier descamper (Cotgr. 1611); f. des-, dé- (see de- I. 6) + camp. Cf. It. scampare = discampare, discamp.]
1. intr. (Mil.) To break up a camp; to remove from a place of encampment. Hence, said of other bodies or parties leaving a camping-place.
| 1676 [see b]. 1678 Phillips, To Decamp, a term now grown much into use in Military Affairs, and signifies to rise from the present place of Incampment, in order to a removing and incamping in another place. 1692 Siege Lymerick 2 Here we incamp'd, and lay till the 14th, on which day we decamp'd. 1725 De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 312 The Spaniards' gentleman caused them to decamp, and march two days further into the mountains, and then they encamped again. 1803 Wellington in Owen Desp. 408 We found on our arrival that the armies of both chiefs had decamped. 1868 Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) II. viii. 290 The Count and his host had decamped. |
b. Const.
from, etc.
| 1676 Row Suppl. Blair's Autobiog. x. (1848) 161 That powder had been laid there the year before, when the army decamped from Dunse-law. 1695 Blackmore Pr. Arth. vi. 429 Decamping thence, his arm'd Battalions gain..the fertile Plain. 1836 W. Irving Astoria III. 97 They were fain to decamp from their inhospitable bivouac before the dawn. |
2. To go away promptly or suddenly; to make off at once, take oneself off: often said of criminals and persons eluding the officers of the law.
| 1751 Smollett Per. Pic. civ, He ordered them [servants] to decamp without further preparation. 1764 Sterne in Traill Life 87 Christmas, at which time I decamp from hence and fix my head-quarters at London. 1792 Gentl. Mag. 17/2 Probably the rascal is decamped; and where is your remedy? 1828 D'Israeli Chas. I, I. iv. 76 An idle report that Prince Charles designed to decamp secretly from Spain. 1885 Manch. Exam. 29 June 5/2 The murderer had decamped, and taken with him 2,000 francs. |
| fig. 1806–7 J. Beresford Miseries Hum. Life (1826) ix. iii, Finding, as you sit down to an excellent dinner, that your appetite has secretly decamped. 1871 Rossetti Poems, Jenny 310 So on the wings of day decamps My last night's frolic. |
† 3. trans. To cause to break up a camp.
rare.
| 1684 Scanderbeg Rediv. v. 120 The next day decampt his whole Army and followed them. 1733 Millner Compend. Jrnl. 202 The Duke decamp'd our Army from Nivelle. |
¶ 4. catachr. To camp.
Obs.| 1698 Fryer Acc. E. India 42 They..being beaten from their Works near the City, had decamped Seven Miles off St. Thomas. 1745 Pococke Descr. East II. ii. ii. 120 It leads to a plain spot on the side of the hill where the Urukes were decamping. |
Hence
deˈcamped ppl. a.,
deˈcamping vbl. n.| 1689 Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) I 567 We have the confirmation of the decamping of the Irish from before Derry. 1770 Langhorne Plutarch (1879) II. 780/1 Cæsar hoped, by his frequent decampings, to provide better for his troops. 1887 Pall Mall G. 14 Nov. 12/1 To inquire into the doings of the decamped bankrupt..and his associates. |