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 sb.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. 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 sb.2 4. Also fig.
1725. De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 64. The creek or harbour where the pirates’ ship lay, and where they had formed their encampment on the shore.
1825. J. Neal, 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. J. Hatton, in 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.
