a. & sb. Obs. In 6 -yon, 6–8 -ion, -ian. [A variant of CHAMPAIGN, -PAIN, found as an attrib. or adj. form in Ld. Berners, early in 16th c., and towards the end of that century also as a sb.; during the 17th c. it was much more frequent in both uses than champagne. Champyon, -ion, was the earlier form; champian was perh. assimilated to adjs. and sbs. in -IAN.]
1. An expanse of level open country; a plain unbroken by hills, woods, etc.; = CHAMPAIGN 1.
1589. Greene, Menaphon (Arb.), 23. Menaphon looking over the champion of Arcadie.
1601. R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw. (1603), 109. It hath larger champians then Lyguria.
1611. Bible, Deut. xi. 30. The Canaanites, which dwell in the champion.
a. 1687. Petty, Pol. Arith. (1690), 14. If it were a plain Champion.
1699. Dampier, Voy., II. I. ii. 19. With some gentle risings here and there, that make it a fine pleasant Champian.
2. (without pl. or article) as a species of land or landscape; = CHAMPAIGN 2.
1573. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 16. In woodland, in Champion, Citie, or towne.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., II. v. 173. Daylight and champian discouers not more.
1653. Holcroft, Procopius, II. ix. 37. Finding all open champian about the Towns there.
1702. W. J., trans. Bruyn’s Voy. Levant, i. 1. The Country round about is all Champian.
3. (with the; without pl.) The level open country, as distinct from the mountains or woods, or the town; = CHAMPAIGN 3.
1579. Gosson, Sch. Abuse (1841), 20. They that never went out of the champion in Brabant will hardly conceive what rocks are in Germany.
1700. Sir H. Chauncy, Hist. Hertfordsh. (1826), I. 59. Henxworth is seated in the Champion upon a rising Ground.
1704. Swift, Battle Bks. (1750), 32. They cackle loud and flutter o’er the Champian.
4. The open unenclosed land as distinguished from that partitioned into fields; the moor, fell, or down on the top of a hill; land held in common; a large common; = CHAMPAIGN 4.
1611. Cotgr., Meze, an vntilled wast, or champian, wherein many seuerall mens cattell runne.
1669. Worlidge, Syst. Agric. (1681), 13. Advantages, that Enclosure yields, above the Champion and Field-Land.
b. transf. A farmer of such land.
1573. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 34. New fermer may enter (as champions say) on all that is fallow, at Lent ladie day.
5. The level open country as the chief scene of military operations; = CHAMPAIGN 5.
1579. Fenton, Guicciard., II. (1599), 85. After the King was entred, he dispersed his men of warre into the champion.
1658. Lennard, trans. Charron’s Wisd., III. iii. § 35 (1670), 377. The plain Champion is good for the Cavalry.
b. Hence, A field of battle; the ‘field.’
c. 1611. Chapman, Iliad, XII. 29. The dusty champian, where many a helm and shield … were strew’d.
1627. Drayton, Agincourt, 87. And many a noble Gentleman that day, Weltring in gore, on the wilde Champion lay.
1640. Gent, Knave in Gr., II. i. One of us twaine, or both … On this cold earth, this very Champion, shall Offer up a crimson sacrifice of his most precious blood.
6. A ‘field’ of inquiry, study, etc.
1596. Spenser, State Irel., 26. The abuses of customes; in which, mee seemes, you have a faire champian layde open unto you.
1631. R. H., Arraignm. Whole Creature, xii. § 5. 136. To expatiate a little into a Champian, and Field of matter.
B. adj. (or attrib. use of sb.)
1. Of the nature of a champaign; level and open; = CHAMPAIGN a. 2.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. xviii. 22. There about was some champyon countrey, with corne and medowes.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb. (1586), 8 b. A holsome place … some part of it champion, some hilly.
1633. P. Fletcher, Pisc. Ecl., I. i. And change his mountains to a champion lea.
1736. Bailey, Houshold Dict., 555. In champion countries.
2. fig. Level, equal.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., III. xxv. 233. That all Offices should be made champian for their profits, none higher than other.
† 3. Agric. Of land: Unenclosed, common, as distinct from ‘several’ or ‘enclosed.’ Obs.
[1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 68. To kepe … the damme at harde meale in the house, as they vse in the playne champyon countrey.]
1580. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 50. Good land that is seuerall, crops may haue three, in champion countrie it may not so bee.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., Democr. (1678), 8/1. Here champion, there inclosed.
1725. Bradley, Fam. Dict., Inclosures generally maintain treble the Number of Inhabitants, or more, than the Champion Ground.
1727–51. Chambers, Cycl., Champion, or rather champain-Lands, are lands not inclosed.
b. Of or pertaining to unenclosed land.
1580. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 2. Of Champion husbandrie now doo I write.
Champian, -pine, obs. ff. CHAMPAIN.
