Obs. [a. F. champ in same senses:—L. camp-um field: cf. CAMP sb.2]
† 1. A field. Champ clos, champ of battle: the ground set apart and enclosed for a judicial duel, single combat, or tourney; also, a battle-field.
c. 1300. K. Alis., 5553. Kyng Alisaunder his armes nam … So dude kyng Porus, saunz faile, And comen hem to chaumpe bataile.
14[?]. Circumcis. (Tundale’s Vis. 96). In champ[c]los hardy as lyon.
c. 1450. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 603. Planicies, anglice Playn et etiam in panno anglice dicitur Champe.
1475. Caxton, Jason, 21 b. I offre myself allone ayenst viii the best knightes … for to fyght in Champe cloos. Ibid. (1489), Faytes of A., IV. ix. 250. To befight hys enemye within a clos felde whiche men calle champ of bataylle.
1816. Keatinge, Trav. (1817), I. 161. The Moors of Spain are one of the most extraordinary nations that ever appeared … on the face of nature, or in the champ clos of politics.
2. Her. The field of a shield.
c. 1320. Sir Beues, 973. Þe champe of gold ful wel i-diȝt Wiþ fif lables of seluer briȝt.
1430. Lydg., Chron. Troy, III. xxii. His shielde … The champe of asure wrought full craftly.
3. Tapestry. The cloth that forms the ground on which the embroidery is worked.
a. 1450. Acts of Christ, MS. Addit. 11307 f. 97 (Halliw.). The chaumpe it was of red camelyn.
1539. in Inv. Roy. Wardr. (1815), 36 (Jam.). Ane coit of quhite dammes with the champ of gold.
1597. Montgomerie, Cherry & Sl., 334. In tirles dornik champ.
4. a. The ‘ground’ in painting. b. ‘The field or ground on which carving is raised’ (Oxf. Gloss. Arch.).
1573. Art of Limming, 8. If you wil make a black vesture, take and laye firste a champe of light blacke mingled [with] white Leade.
5. = CAMP sb.2 14.
1673. Ray, Journ. Low C. (1738), II. 66. They … go to work in the streets, in the next Champ if any be near.
