I. ˈkemp noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English kempe, from Old English cempa; akin to Old Saxon kempio warrior, Old High German kempho, Old Norse kappi; all from a prehistoric West Germanic-North Germanic word derived from a word meaning “combat”, “battle”; akin to Old English camp, comp combat, battle, Old High German kamph combat, battle, Old Norse kapp contest, zeal; all borrowed from Latin campus plain, field, battlefield — more at camp
1.
a. dialect Britain : a strong and worthy warrior or athlete : champion
b. dialect England : an impetuous rogue
2. dialect Britain : a competition or contest especially among reapers in a harvest field
II. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English kempen, probably from kempe, n.
chiefly Scotland : to contend or compete for championship especially in a reaping contest
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English kempe coarse hair, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse kampr mustache; akin to Old English cenep mustache, Old Frisian kenep mustache, Middle Dutch canef been cheekbone, and perhaps to Old Norse knefill pole, stake — more at knave
: a coarse dead fiber especially of wool or mohair that is usually short, wavy, and white, has little affinity for dye, and is used in mixed wools (as in carpets or for novelty effects)