Obs. exc. dial. Forms: 1 cempa, (cæmpa), 2 cempe, 3–5 kempe, (3 kimppe), 4–6, 9, kemp. [OE. cęmpa wk. masc. = OFris. kempa, kampa, OS. *kempio (MDu. kemp(e, kimp(e, MLG. kempe), OHG. chemph(i)o (MHG. kempfe; G. kämpe, from LG., for earlier kämpfe):—WGer. *kampjōn-. It is doubtful whether this is an independent formation from kamp- (CAMP sb.1) battle, or ad. late L. campiōn-em (see CAMPION).]
1. A big, strong and brave warrior or athlete; a professional fighter, wrestler, etc.; a champion.
a. 700. Epinal Gloss., 481. Gladiatores, caempan [Erfurt cempan].
995. Death of Byrhtnoth, 119. Him æt forum feoll fæʓe cempa.
a. 1175. Cott. Hom., 243. Gif we ofercumed heom we scule bien imersed alle gode cempen.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 196. Iðe vihte aȝeines ham, heo biȝiteð þe blisfule kempene crune.
c. 1300. Havelok, 1036. He was for a kempe told.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 3352. Oþer kud kempes.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, VII. viii. They rasshed to gyders lyke two myghty kempys.
1527. Ld. Treas. Acc. Scotl., in Pitcairn, Crim. Trials, I. *271. Item, to John Drummond, callit the kingis kemp … xv li.
1562. Winȝet, Tractates, Wks. 1888, I. 33. Albeit thir twa ȝoure kempis dar not for schame ansuer in this mater.
1818. Scott, Burt’s Lett. N. Scotl., I. Introd. p. lxii. Hammer Donald … (like Viga Glum, and other celebrated kemps and homicides of the North).
1832. Motherwell, Poems (1847), 7. In starkest fight where kemp to kemp, Reel headlong to the grave.
1893. Northumbld. Gloss., Kemp, an impetuous youth.
2. = KEMPER a.
1573. Satir. Poems Reform., xlii. 276. All the corne of the Countrie Be kempis hes not bene schorne, we see.
3. Sc. A seed-stalk of the ribwort (Plantago lanceolata), used in a children’s game: see quot. 1825. [So Norw. kjæmpe, Sw. kämpa.] Cf. COCKS.
1825. Jamieson, s.v., Two children, or young people, pull each a dozen of stalks of rib-grass; and try who with his kemp, can decapitate the greatest number of those belonging to his opponent.
1853. G. Johnston, Nat. Hist. E. Bord., 170. It is customary with children to challenge each other to try the ‘Kemps.’
1893. in Northumbld. Gloss.
