kemp

Meanings

Noun

• Coarse, rough hair, wool, or fur; knotty hairs that will not felt.
• A contest in work, etc.
• A champion; a knight.

Adjective

• Shaggy; rough.

Verb

• To strive or contend in any way; strive for victory.

Origin

• From Middle English kempe, from Old English cenep, from Proto-Germanic *kanipaz, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵénus. Related to camp, chin.
• From Middle English kempe, campe.
• From Middle English kempen, from Old English *cempan, from Proto-West Germanic *kampijan.
• From Middle English kempe, from Old English cempa, from Proto-West Germanic *kampijō. champion. Cognate with literary German Kämpe ("champion, fighter"), German Kempf.