I. ˈkamp noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle French, probably from Middle French dialect (Picard) or Old Occitan, from Latin campus plain, field
Date: 1528
1.
a. : a place usually away from urban areas where tents or simple buildings (as cabins) are erected for shelter or for temporary residence (as for laborers, prisoners, or vacationers)
migrant labor camp
b. : a group of tents, cabins, or huts
fishing camp s along the river
c. : a settlement newly sprung up in a lumbering or mining region
d. : a place usually in the country for recreation or instruction often during the summer
goes to camp every July
also : a program offering access to recreational or educational facilities for a limited period of time
computer camp
a resort offering boating and hiking camp s
e. : a preseason training session for athletes
the star pitcher injured in camp this spring
2.
a. : a body of persons encamped
b.
(1) : a group of persons ; especially : a group engaged in promoting or defending a theory, doctrine, position, or person
(2) : an ideological position
3. : military service or life
II. verb
Date: 1543
intransitive verb
1. : to make camp or occupy a camp
2. : to live temporarily in a camp or outdoors — often used with out
3. : to take up one's quarters : lodge
4. : to take up one's position : settle down — often used with out
camp out in the library for the afternoon
transitive verb
: to put into a camp ; also : accommodate
III. noun
Etymology: origin unknown
Date: circa 1909
1. : exaggerated effeminate mannerisms exhibited especially by homosexuals
2.
a. : something so outrageously artificial, affected, inappropriate, or out-of-date as to be considered amusing
b. : a style or mode of personal or creative expression that is absurdly exaggerated and often fuses elements of high and popular culture
a movie that celebrates camp
• camp·i·ly ˈkam-pə-lē adverb
• camp·i·ness -pē-nəs noun
• campy ˈkam-pē adjective
IV. adjective
Date: 1909
: of, relating to, being, or displaying camp
camp send-ups of the songs of the fifties and sixties — John Elsom
V. intransitive verb
Date: 1925
: to engage in camp : exhibit the qualities of camp
he…was camp ing, hands on hips, with a quick eye to notice every man who passed by — R. M. McAlmon