Camp

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -æmp

From Middle English camp ("battlefield, open space"), from Old English camp ("battle, contest, battlefield, open space"), from Proto-Germanic *kampaz, *kampÄ… ("open field where military exercises are held, level plain"), from Latin campus ("open field, level plain"), from Proto-Indo-European *kamp- ("to bend; crooked"). Reinforced circa 1520 by Middle French can, camp ("place where an army lodges temporarily"), from Old Northern French camp, from the same Latin source (whence also French champ from Old French). Cognate with Old High German champf ("battle, struggle") (German Kampf), Old Norse kapp ("battle"), Old High German hamf ("paralysed, maimed, mutilated").

Full definition of camp

Noun

1. An outdoor place acting as temporary accommodation in tents or other temporary structures.
2. An organised event, often taking place in tents or temporary accommodation.
3. A base of a military group, not necessarily temporary.
4. A single hut or shelter.a hunter's camp
5. The company or body of persons encamped.
• MacaulayThe camp broke up with the confusion of a flight.
6. A group of people with the same strong ideals or political leanings.
7. (uncommon) campus
8. (informal) A summer camp.
9. (agriculture) A mound of earth in which potatoes and other vegetables are stored for protection against frost; called also burrow and pie.
10. (UK, obsolete) An ancient game of football, played in some parts of England.

Verb

1. To live in a tent or similar temporary accommodation.We're planning to camp in the field until Sunday.
2. To set up a camp.
3. (transitive) To afford rest or lodging for.
• ShakespeareHad our great palace the capacity
  To camp this host, we all would sup together.
4. (video games) To stay in an advantageous location in a video game, such as next to a power-up's spawning point or in order to guard an area.The easiest way to win on this map is to camp the double damage.Go and camp the flag for the win.

Adjective

1. of or related to a camp

Derived terms

Related terms

• campus
• champerty

Believed to be from Polari, otherwise obscure.

listed in the Oxford English Dictionary 2

nd

1989

Suggested origins include the 17th century French word camper, 'to put oneself in a pose',

Douglas Harper, "camp (adj.)" in: Etymonline.com - Online Etymology Dictionary, 2001ff

an assumed English dialect word camp or kemp meaning 'rough' or 'uncouth' and a derivation from camp (n.)

Micheal Quinion, "Camp" in: World Wide Words, 2003

Noun

1. An affected, exaggerated or intentionally tasteless style.

Adjective

1. Theatrical; making exaggerated gestures.
2. (of a man) Ostentatiously effeminate.
3. Intentionally tasteless or vulgar, self-parodying.

Derived Terms

• camp it up
• campy

Anagrams

• CAPM, CPAM