kemp

• Rhymes: -ɛmp

From Middle English kempe (“coarse hairs”), from Old English cenep (“moustache; bit (of a bridle, bristling with points)”), from Proto-Germanic *kanipaz (“beard, moustache, whiskers”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵenHw-, *ǵnā(w)- (“jaw”). Related to camp, chin.

kemp (plural kemps)

1. (obsolete) Coarse, rough hair, wool, or fur; (in the plural) knotty hairs that will not felt.

From Middle English kempe, campe (“shaggy, rough”).

kemp (comparative more kemp, superlative most kemp)

1. (obsolete) Shaggy; rough.

From Middle English kempen, from Old English *cempan (“to do battle, fight”), from Proto-Germanic *kampijaną (“to campaign, do battle”). Cognate with Scots kemp, Middle Dutch kempen, Middle Low German kempen, German kämpfen (“to struggle”).

kemp (third-person singular simple present kemps, present participle kemping, simple past and past participle kemped)

1. (intransitive, obsolete) To strive or contend in any way; strive for victory.

• kemper

kemp (plural kemps)

1. (Scotland, archaic) A contest in work, etc.

From Middle English kempe, from Old English cempa (“warrior, fighter, champion”), from Proto-Germanic *kampijô (“fighter”). Cognate with Middle Dutch kempe, German Kämpe, Swedish kämpe. Doublet of champion.

kemp (plural kemps)

1. (obsolete) A champion; a knight.

• MEKP

From English camp.

kemp

1. camp, home (the place where one lives)

kemp

1. Alternative form of kempe (“fish vat”)