Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Kemp, v. [North. ME. kempe (a 1400) to fight, contend in battle: cf. MDu., MLG. kempen, MDu. also kimpen, ON. keppa (earlier *kempa. Norw. kjempe, Da. kæmpe, Sw. kämpa), etc. In the mod. dial., only Sc. and north. Eng. and north. Ir.] intr. To contend, strive. — 1513 Doug. iii. x. 25.
We … fled onon … Syne, kempand with aris in al our mane, Vp weltris watir of the salt sey flude Ib. v. xiii. 32.
Al the flote smate fast with arys the flude, Kempand to went our wallys as thai war wode