Part 162

Cham"o*mile (?), n. (Bot.) See Camomile.

Champ (chămp), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Champed (chămt); p. pr. & vb. n. Champing.] [Prob, of Scand. orgin; cf. dial. Sw. kńmsa 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.

Foamed and champed the golden bit. Dryden.

2. To bite into small pieces; to crunch. Steele.

Champ, v. i. To bite or chew impatiently.

They began . . . irefully to champ upon the bit. Hooker.

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

Cham*pagne" (?), n. [F. See Champaign.] A light wine, of several kinds, originally made in the province of Champagne, in France.

&fist; 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.

Cham*paign" (?), n. [OF. champaigne; same word as campagne.] A flat, open country.

Fair champaign, with less rivers interveined. Milton.

Through Apline vale or champaign wide. Wordsworth.

Cham*paign", a. Flat; open; level.

A wide, champaign country, filled with herds. Addison.

Champ"er (?), n. One who champs, or bites.

Cham"per*tor (?), 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.

Cham"per*ty (?), n. [F. champart field rent, L. campipars; champ (L. campus) field + part (L. pars) share.] 1. Partnership in power; equal share of authority. [Obs.]

BeautÚ ne sleighte, strengthe ne hardyness, Ne may with Venus holde champartye. Chaucer.

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.

&fist; By many authorities champerty is defined as an agreement of this nature. From early times the offence of champerty has been forbidden and punishable.

Cham*pi"gnon (?), n. [F., a mushroom, ultimately fr. L. campus field. See Camp.] (Bot.) An edible species of mushroom (Agaricus campestris).

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

Cham"pi*on (chăm"p&ibreve;*ŭn), 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; esp. 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.

A stouter champion never handled sword. Shak.

Champions of law and liberty. Fisher Ames.

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.

&fist; 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.