kemp
nounadjectiveverbnounnounattested in dialogue
- //kɛmp//
A coarse or bristly hair, whisker; (in the plural) knotty hairs that will not felt.
noun
- 1
obsoleteA coarse or bristly hair, whisker; (in the plural) knotty hairs that will not felt.
- 2
obsoleteRough hair, wool, or fur.
Etymology
From Middle English kempe (“coarse hairs”), from Old English cenep (“moustache; bit (of a bridle, bristling with points)”), from Proto-West Germanic *kanip, from Proto-Germanic *kanipaz (“beard, moustache, whiskers”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵénus (“jaw”). Related to chin.
adjective
- 1
obsoleteShaggy; rough.
Etymology
From Middle English kempe, campe (“shaggy, rough”).
verb
- 1
obsoleteTo strive or contend in any way; strive for victory.
Etymology
From Middle English kempen, from Old English *cempan (“to do battle, fight”), from Proto-West Germanic *kampijan (“to campaign, do battle”), ultimately from Latin campus.
noun
- 1
archaicA contest in work, etc.
noun
- 1
obsoleteA champion; a knight.
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *kh₂em-der. Proto-Indo-European *kh₂ém-po-s Proto-Italic *kampos Latin campusbor. Proto-West Germanic *kamp Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Germanic *-janą Proto-West Germanic *-jan Proto-West Germanic *kampijan Proto-Germanic *-jô Proto-West Germanic *-jō Proto-West Germanic *kampijō Old English cempa Middle English kempe English kemp From Middle English kempe, from Old English cempa (“warrior, fighter, champion”), from Proto-West Germanic *kampijō (“fighter”), ultimately from Latin campus. Doublet of champion. Cognate with literary German Kämpe (“champion, fighter”), German Kempf.
Forms
- plural
- kemps
- comparative
- more kemp
- superlative
- most kemp
- past tense
- kemped
- past participle
- kemped
- present participle
- kemping
- third person singular
- kemps
kemp · A coarse or bristly hair, whisker; (in the plural) knotty hairs that will not felt.
Kemp · A surnameken · To know, perceive or understand.Ken · A diminutive of the male given name Kenneth.