Middle English Dictionary Entry

champiǒun n.
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Entry Info

Forms champiǒun n. Also chaump-, shaump-, chanbioun.
Etymology OF

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
(a) An athlete, such as a wrestler or boxer; (b) a fighter or warrior, esp., one chosen for his strength and skill to engage in single combat; (c) fig. one who fights courageously (against fate, tyranny, etc.).
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2.
(a) One who engages in combat for another's sake or as his representative; (b) kinges ~, one whose office, by tradition, is to defend the English king's title to the Crown in the ceremony of the challenge at coronation; (c) a bodyguard.
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3.
One who defends, supports, or protects another with arms or otherwise; one who champions a cause; also fig.
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4.
(a) One who is victorious in a contest or struggle, victor; (b) ~ chief, supreme champion, paragon.
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Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Etymology needs emending. (OF:Tobler-Lommatzsch; AN: AND) [OF champïon; cp. AN champiun.]

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section is incomplete and needs revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED. Provisional revised form section: Also chaumpio(u)n, champion(e, scha(u)mpion, scaumpioun, campion, kampioun, (early) chaumpiun, chaunpioun, chanbioun, caumpiun, (chiefly early) cha(u)mpiun.--notes per MLL

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