*champ*

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Champed p. pr. & vb. n. Champing. ] [ Prob, of Scand. orgin; cf. dial. Sw. kämsa to chew with difficulty, champ; but cf. also OF. champier, champeyer, champoyer, to graze in fields, fr. F. champ field, fr. L. campus. Cf. Camp. ] 1. To bite with repeated action of the teeth so as to be heard. [ 1913 Webster ]

Foamed and champed the golden bit. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To bite into small pieces; to crunch. Steele. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. See Champaign. ] A light wine, of several kinds, originally made in the province of Champagne, in France. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Champagne properly includes several kinds not only of sparkling but of still wines; but in America the term is usually restricted to wines which effervesce. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Flat; open; level. [ 1913 Webster ]

A wide, champaign country, filled with herds. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. champaigne; same word as campagne. ] A flat, open country. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fair champaign, with less rivers interveined. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Through Apline vale or champaign wide. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ F. champ, L. campus field. ] (Arch.) The field or ground on which carving appears in relief. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who champs, or bites. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. champarteur a divider of fields or field rent. See Champerty. ] (Law) One guilty of champerty; one who purchases a suit, or the right of suing, and carries it on at his own expense, in order to obtain a share of the gain. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. champart field rent, L. campipars; champ (L. campus) field + part (L. pars) share. ] 1. Partnership in power; equal share of authority. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Beauté ne sleighte, strengthe ne hardyness,
Ne may with Venus holde champartye. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) The prosecution or defense of a suit, whether by furnishing money or personal services, by one who has no legitimate concern therein, in consideration of an agreement that he shall receive, in the event of success, a share of the matter in suit; maintenance with the addition of an agreement to divide the thing in suit. See Maintenance. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ By many authorities champerty is defined as an agreement of this nature. From early times the offence of champerty has been forbidden and punishable. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., a mushroom, ultimately fr. L. campus field. See Camp. ] (Bot.) An edible species of mushroom (Agaricus campestris). [ 1913 Webster ]

Fairy ring champignon, the Marasmius oreades, which has a strong flavor but is edible. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. champion, fr. LL.campio, of German origin; cf. OHG. chempho, chemphio, fighter, champf, G. kampf, contest; perh. influenced by L. campus field, taken in the sense of “field of battle.” ] 1. One who engages in any contest; especially one who in ancient times contended in single combat in behalf of another's honor or rights; or one who now acts or speaks in behalf of a person or a cause; a defender; an advocate; a hero. [ 1913 Webster ]

A stouter champion never handled sword. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Champions of law and liberty. Fisher Ames. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who by defeating all rivals, has obtained an acknowledged supremacy in any branch of athletics or game of skill, and is ready to contend with any rival; as, the champion of England. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Champion is used attributively in the sense of surpassing all competitors; overmastering; as, champion pugilist; champion chess player.

Syn. -- Leader; chieftain; combatant; hero; warrior; defender; protector. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Championed p. pr. & vb. n. Championing. ] [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To furnish with a champion; to attend or defend as champion; to support or maintain; to protect. [ 1913 Webster ]

Championed or unchampioned, thou diest. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A female champion. Fairfax. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. State of being champion; leadership; supremacy. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Geol.) A subdivision of the Quaternary age immediately following the Glacial period; -- so named from beds near Lake Champlain. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The earlier deposits of this period are diluvial in character, as if formed in connection with floods attending the melting of the glaciers, while the later deposits are of finer material in more quiet waters, as the alluvium. [ 1913 Webster ]