encampment
(ɛnˈkæmpmənt)
Also 8 incampment.
[f. encamp v. + -ment.]
1. The action of encamping; the state of being encamped.
| 1686 Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) I. 381 The encampment of his majesties forces on Hounslow Heath. 1709 Steele Tatler No. 60 ¶9 The whole Art of Encampment. 1750 Phil. Trans. XLVII. iii. 5 During our incampment in Dutch Brabant. 1774 Goldsmith Grecian Hist. I. 222 They were once more obliged to forsake culture for encampment. 1776 Gibbon Decl. & F. I. (R.), A square of about seven hundred yards was sufficient for the encampment of twenty thousand Romans. 1836 W. Irving Astoria II. 245 Two or three days after the encampment in the valley. |
2. The place where a body of troops is lodged in tents or other temporary means of shelter, with or without intrenchments; = camp n.2 1. Also attrib. and fig.
| 1598 Barret Theor. Warres v. ii. 150 Strong encampements, if commodities be cut off, not much available. 1713 Pope in Guardian No. 173 ¶8 A green encampment yonder meets the eye, And loaded citrons bearing shields and speares. 1732 T. Lediard Sethos II. viii. 169 An incampment which was forming in haste. 1838 Lytton Leila i. i, The immense and murmuring encampment of the Spanish foe. |
b. transf. The temporary quarters, formed by tents, vehicles, etc., occupied by a body of nomads or men on the march, travellers, etc.; = camp n.2 4. Also fig.
| 1725 De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 64 The creek..where they had formed their encampment. 1825 Bro. Jonathan III. 418 Signs of a small Indian encampment. 1864 Lowell Fireside Trav. 127 A lobster..So old that barnacles had spread Their white encampments o'er its head. 1884 Harper's Mag. Feb. 339/1 Encampments are common..along the Thames. |
† 3. A Masonic meeting. Obs.
| 1787 in Burns' Wks. (1856) II. 83 note, At a general encampment held this day, the following brethren were made Royal Arch Masons, viz.—Robert Burns, etc. 1878 Woodford Kenning's Masonic Cyclop., Encampment, the name formerly given to the assemblies of Masonic Knights Templar. |