Also 6–7 campe. [a. F. camp (16th c. in Littré) in same sense: cf. It., Sp., Pg. campo ‘camp,’ orig. ‘field,’ and F. champ, Pr. camp, field, field of tournament, field of battle:—L. camp-us level field, spec. the Campus Martius at Rome, the place for games, athletic practice, military drills, etc., whence ‘field of contest or combat,’ ‘field of battle.’ Although camp was the Norman form of champ, no trace of it appears in ME., which had only CHAMP from central OF., in the senses of ‘field of duel or tournament’ and heraldic ‘field.’ Camp was introduced early in the 16th c., from contemporary Fr. and with the sense castra, but was also at first used to render L. campus in other senses, as well as occasionally in the sense of the earlier champ ‘field of combat.’
Littré supposed that the 16th-century French use of camp was merely the literary adoption of the Picard form in a special sense; but evidently it was an adaptation of It. (or ? Sp.) campo, in a sense not used with F. champ.]
I. In the military sense.
1. The place where an army or body of troops is lodged in tents or other temporary means of shelter, with or without intrenchments. In common modern use the collection of tents, huts, and other equipments is the chief notion, the site being the ‘camping-ground’; but as used of ancient works, Roman, British, Danish, etc., it usually means the intrenched and fortified site, within which an army lodged or defended itself; a modern intrenched camp includes both notions. The name is also given to a permanent station for the reception of troops, in order that they may be trained in manœuvring in large bodies, and in campaigning duties generally, as the camps at Aldershot, Shorncliffe camp, camp of Chalons.
1528. Sir Gr. de Cassalis, etc. (The King’s Ambassadors with the Pope), in Strype, Eccl. Mem., I. II. xxiii. 61. It is very certain, that the Spanyards have refused batel, and conveyed themself out of ther camp neerer unto Naples in the night.
1560. Bible (Genev.), 2 Kings vii. 7. They left their tentes and their horses and their asses, euen the campe as it was, and fledde for their liues.
1593. Shaks., Lucr., Argt. (1594), A ij b. Sextus Tarquinius … departed with the rest backe to the Campe.
1683. Burnet, trans. More’s Utopia, 170. They fortify their Camps well, with a deep and large Trench.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 540. The Youth of Rome … pitch their sudden Camp before the Foe.
1727–51. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., Rhoe, describing the great Mogul’s camp, says, it is twenty English miles round.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, v. Ability, Wks. (Bohn), II. 33. He disembarked his legions, erected his camps and towers.
1870. F. Wilson, Ch. Lindisf., 70. A fine ancient British camp, upon a neighbouring hill-top.
2. A body of troops encamping and moving together; an army on a campaign. (In earlier Eng. the host.)
a. 1584. Vicary, Englishm. Treas., 59. In anno 1551, when the said citie was taken and destroyed by the campe of Charles the first.
c. 1590. Marlowe, Massacre Paris, II. vi. Dismiss thy camp.
1598. Grenewey, Tacitus’ Ann., IV. vi. 97. This fleeting enemy was not to bee pursued with a maine campe.
1611. Bible, 1 Sam. iv. 7. God is come into the campe [Coverd. hoost, Genev. hoste].
1706. Farquhar, Recruit. Off., II. i. I hope you have more honour than to quit the service, and she more prudence than to follow the Camp.
1751. Johnson, Rambl., No. 144, ¶ 4. Multitudes follow the camp only for want of employment.
1839. Thirlwall, Greece, III. 451. The army was formed in a hollow square, inclosing the baggage and the followers of the camp.
b. Flying camp, camp-volant: ‘a little army of horse and foot, that keeps the field, and is continually in motion’ (Phillips, 1696–1706). See also quot. 1699. ? Obs.
1577. Holinshed, Chron., III. 1040/2. Who … with a campe volant did what he could to stop the Englishmen within Habington from vittels.
1726. De Foe, Hist. Devil (1822), 299. Some of his camp-volent are always present.
1611. Cotgr., Camp volant, a flying campe, a campe of light-horsemen for ordinarie roades.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Flying-Camps, Beggers plying in Bodies at Funerals.
1727–51. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Camp, Flying Camp is a strong body of horse or dragoons.
c. Camp-royal: the main or chief body of an army with the commander-in-chief; a great body of troops; hence fig. a great number, a host.
1593. Nashe, Christ’s T., 31 b. False witnesses they had in pay a Campe royal.
1601. Dent, Pathw. Heauen, 216. A Campe-royall, euen forty thousand strong.
1641. Brome, Joviall Crew, II. Wks. 1873, III. 377. This Doublet … might serve to furnish a Camp Royal of us.
3. Used for: The scene of military service; military service, the military life in general.
1725. Ramsay, Gentle Sheph., III. iv. I must … my Patrick soon remove To Courts and camps that may his soul improve.
1799. Lamb, Corr., lxxi. (1870), 194. The world, the camp and the university have spoilt him among them.
1805. Scott, Last Minstrel, III. xv. Love rules the court, the camp, the grove.
1827. Keble, Chr. Y. 1 Advent x. Through court and camp he holds his heavenward course serene.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., III. 204. His knowledge of courts and camps was such as few of his countrymen possessed.
II. transf. from the military sense.
4. The temporary quarters, formed by tents, vehicles, or other portable or improvised means of shelter, occupied by a body of nomads or men on the march, by travellers, gipsies, companies of sportsmen, lumbermen, field-preachers and their audiences, or parties ‘camping out’; an encampment.
Connected with sense 1 by intimate gradations, e.g., the camp of the Israelites, or of North American Indians.
1560. Bible (Genev.), Ex. xvi. 13. At euen the quailes came and couered the campe [Vulg. castra, Coverd. tentes].
1823. J. F. Cooper, Pioneer, xx. The sugar-boiler, who was busy in his ‘camp.’
1864. W. Campbell, My Indian Jrnl., Contents … Sport at Dharwar … A Civilian’s Camp … Bison-Shooting, etc.
1886. F. H. H. Guillemard, Cruise Marchesa, I. 95. It is the hunter’s rule to see that the fire is extinguished … before breaking camp.
b. loosely. ‘Quarters.’
1747. H. Walpole, Corr. (1837), I. 108. I am got into a new camp and have left my tub at Windsor.
5. An encamping; a ‘camping out.’
In Australia the regular term for an expedition or excursion for fishing, shooting, etc., in which the party camps out.
1865. Intell. Observ., No. 37. 15. A previous night’s camp near the spot.
1880. J. Inglis, Austral. Cousins, 233. We’re going to have a regular camp;… and intend going to Port Hacking to have some shooting, fishing, and general diversion.
1886. Pall Mall Gaz., 3 Aug., 13/2. Cadet corps (now out for a week’s camp, by-the-bye).
6. The whole company or body of persons encamped together, as surveyors, lumbermen, sportsmen, etc.; a company of nomads.
1750. Beawes, Lex Mercat., 797. The Chan of the Western Moungales Camp, tributary to China.
1864. in Webster.
III. fig. from the military sense.
7. A ‘host’ or ‘army’ of arguments, facts, etc.
1566. Painter, Pal. Pleas., Ded. Titus Liuius in whom is contayned a large campe of noble facts and exploites atchieued by valiaunt personages.
1871. E. F. Burr, Ad Fidem, xiv. 282. The main camp of allegations.
8. a. A body of adherents of a militant doctrine, or theory. b. The position in which ideas or beliefs are intrenched and strongly defended.
1871. Morley, Voltaire (1886), 23. No one who has marched ever so short a way out of the great camp of old ideas.
1885. Clodd, Myths & Dr., II. vii. 182. Matters still dividing philosophers into opposite camps.
IV. In sense of ME. CHAMP.
† 9. The field of combat, the lists. Obs. rare–1.
1525. Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. clxi. [clvii.] 446. Howe he durste … do armes with hym in campe or iustes mortall.
V. In various senses of L. campus.
† 10. Campe of Mars, Camp Mart: = Campus Martius. Obs.
1534. Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), F viij. The emperour goynge to the campe of Mars.
1647. R. Stapylton, Juvenal, 109. Exercising and training like the tyrones or young souldiers in Camp Mart.
† 11. Plain, level surface, field. Watery camp (cæruleus campus, campus latus aquarum): the surface of the sea. Obs.
1598. Sylvester, Du Bartas, I. iii. (1641), 29/1. Whereby w’are stor’d with Truchman, Guide & Lamp, To search all corners of the watery Camp.
† 12. Field of inquiry; field of discussion or debate, subject of debate. Obs.
1538. Leland, Itin., I. p. xxi. I have more exspatiatid yn this Campe then they did.
c. 1538. Starkey, England, iv. 128. Wherfor I wyl not entur into that campe.
ǁ VI. 13. = Spanish campo: see quot.
1877. Athenæum, 1 Dec., 703/2. The Falkland Island word for expanses of bog land, ‘camp,’ is not derived from the French champ … but from the Spanish campo.
† 14. (A sense of F. camp: see quot.) Obs. rare–0.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., Camp, is also used among the Siamese and East-Indians, for a quarter of a town assigned to foreigners, wherein to carry on their commerce. In these camps, each nation forms itself a kind of city apart, in which their store houses and shops are, and the factors and their families reside. [So in London Encycl., 1829.]
VII. attrib. and Comb. a. Simple, as camp-boy, -craft, -diseases, -equipage, -equipment, -fare, -fashion, -frock, -guide, -hut, -keeper, -kettle, -kit, -language, -life, -mill, -money, -plot, -squire, -stove, etc.
1813. Wellington, in Gurw., Disp., XI. 27. Stores commonly called *camp equipments.
1820. T. Mitchell, Aristoph., I. 121. The sack that holds our coarse *camp-fare.
1886. Pall Mall Gaz., 28 July, 2/1. Seated *camp-fashion on boxes.
a. 1849. J. C. Mangan, Poems (1859), 338. In an uniform of blue and white And a grey *camp-frock he is dressed.
1828–40. Tytler, Hist. Scot. (1864), I. 153/1. The servants who remained in the *camp-huts.
1805. Naval Chron., XIV. 35. Bailing it out with a *camp-kettle.
1850. Alison, Hist. Europe, XI. lxxvi. § 39. 447. The ponderous iron camp-kettles hitherto used by the soldiers had been exchanged for lighter ones.
1861. Max Müller, Sc. Lang., 303. Urdu-zeban, *camp-language, is the proper name of Hindustani.
1828. Macaulay, Hallam, Ess. (1854), I. 72. The Judges would have given as strong a decision in favour of *camp-money as they gave in favour of ship-money.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit., I. 83. Maximus: a base *campe-Squire.
b. Special comb., as camp-bed, -bedstead, a bed or bedstead for use in field-service; hence spec. a bedstead made to fold up within a narrow space; a trestle bedstead; camp-chair, a form of folding chair; † camp-chaplain, an army chaplain; camp-colo(u)r, a flag or color used in marking out and arranging the camping-ground for a body of troops; hence camp colo(u)r-man (see quot.); camp-disease, -duty (see quots.); camp-fever, a name given to fevers of an epidemical character occurring in camps, chiefly typhus; camp-fire, a fire lit in a camp or encampment; hence a military social gathering in a garrison, etc.; spec. in U.S. a re-union of members of one or more clubs, ‘posts,’ of the ‘Grand Army of the Republic,’ a society of ex-volunteers; camp-flux, -furniture (see quots.); camp-marshal = F. maréchal de camp, see CAMP-MASTER; camp-paper, a kind of copying paper, like carbon-paper; camp-party, a party forming a camp, a camping-out party; camp-seat, -stool, a light portable folding stool; camp-vinegar, a preparation made by mixing vinegar with Cayenne pepper, soy, walnut-ketchup, anchovies, and garlic, and afterwards straining it. Also CAMP-FOLLOWER, -MASTER, -MEETING.
1690. Lond. Gaz., No. 2529/4. One large Tent fit for a Colonel, with Chairs and *Camp-Beds.
1825. Hone, Every-day Bk., I. 940. A *camp-bedstead, of planks resting on bars of iron.
1885. Constance Fenimore Woolson, in Harper’s Mag., March, 631/1. Winthrop found a *camp chair.
1679–88. Secr. Serv. Money Chas. & Jas. (1851), 196. One of the *camp chaplains … on his allowance of 8s. per diem.
1785. Ray, in Phil. Trans., LXXV. 422. By arranging *camp colours in the intervals.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., s.v., The *camp colour-men, are drawn a man out of a company.
1853. Stocqueler, Mil. Encycl., Camp Colour men, soldiers whose business it is to assist in marking out the lines of an encampment, &c.; to carry the camp colours to the field, on days of exercise, and fix them, for the purpose of enabling the troops to take up correct points in marching, &c.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., s.v., The *camp disease, morbus castrensis, absolutely so called, is a malignant fever. Dudley Digges died of the camp disease which raged in the garrison at Oxford, in 1643. Ibid., *Camp Duty, in its utmost extent, includes every part of the service performed by the troops during the campaign. But in a more particular sense, denotes the guards ordinary and extraordinary kept in camps. Ibid., s.v. Camp, The *camp fever is the same with what is otherwise called the Hungarian fever, and bears a near affinity to the petechial fever.
1837. Thirlwall, Greece, IV. xxx. 221. Their *campfires first announced their presence.
1884. Boston (Mass.) Jrnl., 6 Sept. Edwin-Humphrey Post, No. 104, G. A. R., of this town celebrated its fifteenth anniversary by a camp-fire Friday evening.
1871. Forbes, Exper. War France & Ger., I. 349 (Hoppe). During peace time, there is a camp fire—or gathering equivalent to it—once a week in every Prussian Regiment.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., *Camp Flux, a name frequently given to the dysentery.
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, *Camp-furniture, articles of cabinet work made compact, light, and portable, so as to be easily folded and transported; such as camp-stools, camp-bedsteads, tables, &c.
1670. Cotton, Espernon, I. iv. 152. The Count de Suze, Bezaudun, *Camp-Mareschal.
1707. Lond. Gaz., No. 4392/2. The Count Louvignies, a Camp-Marshal to the Spanish Forces.
c. 1790. Imison, Sch. Arts, II. 31. To make *Camp Paper, with which a Person may write or draw without Pen, Ink, or Pencil.
1831. T. L. Peacock, Crotchet Castle, 296. Sitting on a *campstool with a portfolio on his knee.
1873. Black, Pr. Thule, vi. 87. He folded up and shouldered his camp-stool.
