Middle English Dictionary Entry
chaump(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | chaump(e n. Also champ(e, chaum-clos, (error) champlos. |
| Etymology | OF, from L campus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A piece of open ground, such as a field or meadow; (b) ~ bataile, battlefield; ~ clos, an area set off or enclosed for trial by combat or a tournament; also, single combat.
Associated quotations
a
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4719 : He..a fild entris, Vmfaldin with a faire wod..All þe chiere of þe champe was chargid with floures.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)23b : A Chawmpe: jntercapedo, jntersticium.
b
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)5544 : Kyng Alisaunder his armes nam..And al his folk in jrne and steel. So dude kyng Porus..And comen hem to chaumpe bataile.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.840 : Þer was nat oon þat hardy was..In chaumclos þis quarel to darreyne, Nouþer Vlixes, nouþer Dyomede.
- a1500 Lydg.LOL (Adv 19.3.1)p.96 : In champlos [read: champclos]..som quarel to derayne Synglerly by empryse of hem tweyne.
2.
(a) Her. The field of a shield or banner; (b) background, as for embroidery, illuminations, gems.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)973 : Þe champe of gold ful wel i-diȝt Wiþ fif lables of seluer briȝt.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.244 : Þilke day he bare in his schelde..þre lyouns..Þe chaump of azour wrouȝt ful craftely.
- a1450 Gener.(1) (Mrg M 876)3925 : Armes he bereth..With bendes of gold..The champe, of goules red and bright.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)575 : The grete baner wherof the champe was white as snowe, and the dragon was a-boue the crosse.
b
- (1341) Will York in Sur.Soc.43 : Unum coverlet diversorum operum cujus chaump est de viridi.
- c1390(?a1325) LChart.Chr.A (Vrn)218 : Þe cloþ was riche..Þe chaumpe hit was of red camelyn.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)8043 : Robes..Off riche scarlet were bothe here champes, Poudred..With lilye-leues and fflour-delys.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3677 : Þo [the plates of gold] ware strenkild with stanes..with charbokl[e]s on þe champ.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)55 : Red up on greene chaumpe..is wel fair.
- c1450 Trin-C.LEDict.(Trin-C O.5.4)603 : Planicies in panno: Champe.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1500 Hrl.2252 Artist.Recipes (Hrl 2252) 78/21 : Yf þu wylte make a blacke vesture, take fyrste and ley a champe of lyghte blacke mynged with blancke plome, and sadde hyt ynke blacke.
- a1500 Cmb.Ee.1.13 Dye Recipes (Cmb Ee.1.13) 109/22 : Forto diaper on blew, tak blak, and þi chaump also diaper with blak diapering.
Note: Clarke's gloss = 'field (area of solid color), background (of a picture or escutcheon)'. Additional quots., ?prob. sense 2.(b).
- a1500 Dc.45 Artist.Recipes (Dc 45) 149/14 : Þe vtter dele of cloþ in garmentis ys ycallyd a 'champe', and þe lynyng ys ycallyd 'albers', and þe hem a 'lysere'.
Note: Clarke's gloss = 'the outer part of garments, or perh. background (e.g. to embroudery). In the Commentary, he adds: 'The given definition (þe vtter dele of cloþ in garmentis) is perhaps incorrect, and should better be 'background' (to e.g. embroidery).'