*SET-U

English word origin

Etymology of kemp

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”), fr

4 source sectionsExtended source reportWiktionary original ↗
In this entry · 4 source sections

The source etymologies

Wiktionary via Kaikki / Wiktextract

The source reports below are imported and unreviewed by *SET-U. Separate numbered origins and differing source variants are preserved; agreement within this extraction is not independent corroboration.

Source etymology 1

Original entry ↗
noun

A coarse or bristly hair, whisker; (in the plural) knotty hairs that will not felt. · Rough hair, wool, or fur.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

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.

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

  • Inherited-form mentionkempeenm · coarse hairs
  • Inherited-form mentioncenepang · moustache; bit (of a bridle, bristling with points)
  • Inherited-form mention*kanipgmw-pro
  • Inherited-form mention*kanipazgem-pro · beard, moustache, whiskers
  • Derivation mention*ǵénusine-pro · jaw
Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "kempe",
        "t": "coarse hairs"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English kempe (“coarse hairs”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "inh",
      "args": {
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        "2": "ang",
        "3": "cenep",
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      },
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    },
    {
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        "2": "gmw-pro",
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      },
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    },
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      },
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    },
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      },
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    }
  ],
  "links": [
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      "kempe#Middle_English"
    ],
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      "cenep",
      "cenep#Old_English"
    ],
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      "Reconstruction:Proto-West Germanic/kanip"
    ],
    [
      "*kanipaz",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/kanipaz"
    ],
    [
      "*ǵénus",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/ǵénus"
    ],
    [
      "chin",
      "chin#English"
    ]
  ],
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  "descendants": [],
  "lexical": [
    {
      "pos": "noun",
      "glosses": [
        "A coarse or bristly hair, whisker; (in the plural) knotty hairs that will not felt.",
        "Rough hair, wool, or fur."
      ],
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        "countable",
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Source etymology 2

Original entry ↗
adj

Shaggy; rough.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

From Middle English kempe, campe (“shaggy, rough”).

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

  • Inherited-form mentionkempeenm
Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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    ]
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Source etymology 3

Original entry ↗
noun

A contest in work, etc.

verb

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

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

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.

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

  • Inherited-form mentionkempenenm
  • Inherited-form mention*cempanang · to do battle, fight
  • Inherited-form mention*kampijangmw-pro · to campaign, do battle
  • Derivation mentioncampusla
Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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    },
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        "1": "en",
        "2": "ang",
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    },
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    },
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      },
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    ],
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      "*kampijan",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-West Germanic/kampijan"
    ],
    [
      "campus",
      "campus#Latin"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [],
  "lexical": [
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        "A contest in work, etc."
      ],
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Source etymology 4

Original entry ↗
noun

A champion; a knight.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *kh₂em-der. Proto-Indo-European *kh₂ém-po-s Proto-Italic *kampos Latin campusbor. Proto-West Germanic *kamp Proto-West Germanic *-jan Proto-West Germanic *kampijan Proto-Indo-European *-is Proto-Indo-European *-yos Proto-Indo-European *-yós Proto-Indo-European *-i- Proto-Indo-European *-ō 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.

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

  • Inherited-form mentionkempeenm
  • Inherited-form mentioncempaang · warrior, fighter, champion
  • Inherited-form mention*kampijōgmw-pro · fighter
  • Derivation mentioncampusla
  • Doublet mentionchampionen
  • Cognate mentionKämpede
  • Cognate mentionKempfde
Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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  "templates": [
    {
      "name": "etymon",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":inh",
        "3": "enm:kempe<id:warrior>",
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        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *kh₂em-der.\nProto-Indo-European *kh₂ém-po-s\nProto-Italic *kampos\nLatin campusbor.\nProto-West Germanic *kamp\nProto-West Germanic *-jan\nProto-West Germanic *kampijan\nProto-Indo-European *-is\nProto-Indo-European *-yos\nProto-Indo-European *-yós\nProto-Indo-European *-i-\nProto-Indo-European *-ō\nProto-Germanic *-jô\nProto-West Germanic *-jō\nProto-West Germanic *kampijō\nOld English cempa\nMiddle English kempe\nEnglish kemp\n[Appendix:Glossary#loanword|Borrowed]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"field\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"campus\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"der.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Derived from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"gloss\" : \"to bend; to curve; to smooth\", \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*kh₂em-\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"derived\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*kh₂ém-po-s\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Italic\", \"term\" : \"*kampos\", \"lang\" : \"itc-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"campus\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"bor\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-West Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*kamp\", \"lang\" : \"gmw-pro\" }, { \"id\" : \"verbs\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-West Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*-jan\", \"lang\" : \"gmw-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-West Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*kampijan\", \"lang\" : \"gmw-pro\" }, { \"id\" : \"agent nouns\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"agent nouns\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"alt\" : \"*-i-\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-is\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" }, { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-yos\", \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" }, { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-yós\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" }, { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-ō\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*-jô\", \"lang\" : \"gem-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-West Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*-jō\", \"lang\" : \"gmw-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-West Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*kampijō\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"gmw-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old English\", \"term\" : \"cempa\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ang\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"kempe\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"kemp\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }\" data-id=\"warrior\" data-lang=\"en\" data-title=\"kemp\" id=\"English:_warrior\">"
    },
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        "2": "enm",
        "3": "kempe"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English kempe"
    },
    {
      "name": "inh",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "cempa",
        "t": "warrior, fighter, champion"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English cempa (“warrior, fighter, champion”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "inh",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "gmw-pro",
        "3": "*kampijō",
        "t": "fighter"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-West Germanic *kampijō (“fighter”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "campus"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin campus"
    },
    {
      "name": "doublet",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "champion"
      },
      "expansion": "Doublet of champion"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "de",
        "2": "Kämpe",
        "3": "",
        "4": "champion, fighter"
      },
      "expansion": "German Kämpe (“champion, fighter”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "de",
        "2": "Kempf"
      },
      "expansion": "German Kempf"
    },
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        "2": ":inh",
        "3": "enm:kempe<id:warrior>",
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        "tree": "1"
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    }
  ],
  "links": [
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      "*kh₂em-",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/kh₂em-"
    ],
    [
      "*kh₂ém-po-s",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/kh₂ém-po-s"
    ],
    [
      "*kampos",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Italic/kampos#Proto-Italic:_campus"
    ],
    [
      "campus",
      "campus#Latin:_field"
    ],
    [
      "*kamp",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-West Germanic/kamp#Proto-West_Germanic:_field"
    ],
    [
      "*-jan",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-West Germanic/-jan#Proto-West_Germanic:_verbs"
    ],
    [
      "*kampijan",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-West Germanic/kampijan#Proto-West_Germanic:_battle"
    ],
    [
      "*-is",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/-is"
    ],
    [
      "*-yos",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/-yos"
    ],
    [
      "*-yós",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/-yós"
    ],
    [
      "*-ō",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/-ō"
    ],
    [
      "*-jô",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/-jô#Proto-Germanic:_agent_nouns"
    ],
    [
      "*-jō",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-West Germanic/-jō#Proto-West_Germanic:_agent_nouns"
    ],
    [
      "*kampijō",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-West Germanic/kampijō"
    ],
    [
      "cempa",
      "cempa#Old_English"
    ],
    [
      "kempe",
      "kempe#Middle_English:_warrior"
    ],
    [
      "kempe",
      "kempe#Middle_English"
    ],
    [
      "cempa",
      "cempa#Old_English"
    ],
    [
      "*kampijō",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-West Germanic/kampijō"
    ],
    [
      "campus",
      "campus#Latin"
    ],
    [
      "champion",
      "champion#English"
    ],
    [
      "Kämpe",
      "Kämpe#German"
    ],
    [
      "Kempf",
      "Kempf#German"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [],
  "lexical": [
    {
      "pos": "noun",
      "glosses": [
        "A champion; a knight."
      ],
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Where this record stops

This page does not supply an independently verified sound-change sequence, first-use manuscript or complete family tree unless a cited analysis explicitly establishes one. Missing detail here is a limit of this record—not a claim that humanity knows nothing more.

An older meaning does not determine what a word must mean today. Follow the sources, preserve disagreements, and keep ancestry separate from interpretation.

Contribute located evidence for kemp →

Source and snapshot

Imported from Wiktionary contributors; extracted by Tatu Ylonen / Wiktextract / Kaikki.org. Selected fields are reformatted and grouped; wording, source identity and etymology sections are retained. CC-BY-SA-4.0 applies to the imported source material.

Dump: 2026-10-01 · Extracted: 2026-10-30. These are snapshot dates, not the word’s first attestation or the page’s revision date.

Source entry and bibliography ↗Wiktionary revision history ↗Acquisition and rights ledger
Machine-source provenance
Source SHA-256
5ff2c072f8099f2d2ce484bd6957bf179f046d2ad37bc36555edf8bb84cb5291
Import run
73216b9a9b78ed3830994bf853103716f5a4dc57099e371e9f8fdc468facca26
Permanent entry ID
w-a2VtcA