Sc. and north. dial. [ME. kempen = MDu. kempen, kimpen, LG. kämpen, OHG. chemfan (MHG. kempfen, G. kämpfen), ON. keppa (:—*kempa; Sw. kämpa, Da. kæmpe):—OTeut. *kampjan, f. kamp-: see CAMP sb.1 and KEMP sb.1] intr. a. To fight or contend in battle with another. b. To contend or strive in doing a piece of work; said esp. of a set of reapers striving to finish their ‘rig’ first.

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  a.  a. 1400[?].  Morte Arth., 2634. There is no kynge undire Criste may kempe with hym one!

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1893.  Northumbld. Gloss., s.v. Kemps, They are called by children kemps … and are used to kemp or fight with.

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  b.  1513.  Douglas, Æneis, III. x. 20. We … kempand with airis in all our mane, Wp welteris watter of the salt se flude.

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1685.  Lintoun Green (1817), 95 (E. D. D.). [She] could … kemp wi’ Kate or Wull, On harvest day.

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1786.  Har’st Rig, in Chambers, Pop. Hum. Scot. Poems (1862), 48. This sets the lave a-working fast—They kemp at length.

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a. 1881.  Carlyle, in Mrs. C.’s Lett. (1883), II. 192. His reapers had taken to ‘kemp’ and spoiled him much stuff.

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