What does "kemp" mean?
A coarse or bristly hair, whisker; (in the plural) knotty hairs that will not felt.
Kemp
/kɛmp/ adj, name, noun, verb
adj, name, noun, verb ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A coarse or bristly hair, whisker; (in the plural) knotty hairs that will not felt.
- Grammar: kemp is listed as adj, name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: buck, hart, stag.
- Useful contrasts: doe, hind.
How to use "kemp"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "kemp" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "kemp" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "kemp" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "kemp" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
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- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "kemp" is acting as adj, name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "buck" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use surrounding context as the evidence check, then read your sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "kemp", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A coarse or bristly hair, whisker; (in the plural) knotty hairs that will not felt. countable, dialectal, obsolete, uncountable
- 2 A contest in work, etc. Scotland, archaic
- 3 A champion; a knight. obsolete
- 4 Rough hair, wool, or fur. countable, dialectal, obsolete, uncountable
Verb
- 1 To strive or contend in any way; strive for victory. intransitive, obsolete
Adjective
- 1 Shaggy; rough. obsolete
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname countable, uncountable
- 2 A placename; An unincorporated community in Douglas County, Illinois, United States. countable, uncountable
- 3 A placename; An unincorporated community in Allen County, Ohio, United States. countable, uncountable
- 4 A placename; A small town in Bryan County, Oklahoma, United States. countable, uncountable
- 5 A placename; A small city in Kaufman County, Texas, United States. countable, uncountable
Synonyms
All synonymsCommon questions
What is a synonym for "kemp"?
Common synonyms include: buck, hart, stag.
How do you pronounce "kemp"?
Pronounced /kɛmp/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English kempe (“coarse hairs”), from Old English cenep (“moustache; bit (of a bridle, bristling with points)”), from Proto-West Germanic *kanip, from Proto-Germanic *kanipaz (“beard, moustache, whiskers”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵénus (“jaw”). Related to chin.
Etymology 2
From Middle English kempe, campe (“shaggy, rough”).
Etymology 3
From Middle English kempen, from Old English *cempan (“to do battle, fight”), from Proto-West Germanic *kampijan (“to campaign, do battle”), ultimately from Latin campus.
Etymology 4
From Middle English kempe, from Old English cempa (“warrior, fighter, champion”), from Proto-West Germanic *kampijō (“fighter”), ultimately from Latin campus. Doublet of champion. Cognate with literary German Kämpe (“champion, fighter”), German Kempf.
Etymology 5
* As an English, Scottish, Dutch, and north/Low German surname, from the noun kemp (“champion, warrior”), similar to Kampf. * As a Dutch and West Flemish occupational surname, from Middle Dutch canep (“hemp”) (see modern hennep). * Also as a Dutch surname Van der Kemp, Brabantine variant of Van der Kamp, from van (“of”) + der (“the”) + kamp (“camp”), related to the first sense above. The place names are from the surname.