camp

camp¹

/kamp/, n.

1. a place where an army or other group of persons or an individual is lodged in a tent or tents or other temporary means of shelter.

2. such tents or shelters collectively: The regiment transported its camp in trucks.

3. the persons so sheltered: The camp slept through the storm.

4. the act of camping out: Camp is far more pleasant in summer than in winter.

5. any temporary structure, as a tent or cabin, used on an outing or vacation.

6. a group of troops, workers, etc., camping and moving together.

7. army life.

8. a group of people favoring the same ideals, doctrines, etc.: Most American voters are divided into two camps, Republicans and Democrats.

9. any position in which ideals, doctrines, etc., are strongly entrenched: After considering the other side's argument, he changed camps.

10. a recreation area in the country, equipped with extensive facilities for sports.

11. See day camp.

12. See summer camp.

v.i.

13. to establish or pitch a camp: The army camped in the valley.

14. to live temporarily in or as if in a camp or outdoors, usually for recreation (often fol. by out): They camped by the stream for a week.

15. to reside or lodge somewhere temporarily or irregularly, esp. in an apartment, room, etc.: They camped in our apartment whenever they came to town.

16. to settle down securely and comfortably; become ensconced: The kids camped on our porch until the rain stopped.

17. to take up a position stubbornly: They camped in front of the president's office.

v.t.

18. to put or station (troops) in a camp; shelter.

[1520-30; < MF can, camp, orig. dial. (Normandy, Picardy) or < OPr < It campo < L campus field; cf. OE campe, compe battle, battlefield (c. G Kampf struggle) < Gmc < L]

camp²

/kamp/, n.

1. something that provides sophisticated, knowing amusement, as by virtue of its being artlessly mannered or stylized, self-consciously artificial and extravagant, or teasingly ingenuous and sentimental.

2. a person who adopts a teasing, theatrical manner, esp. for the amusement of others.

v.i.

3. Also, camp it up. to speak or behave in a coquettishly playful or extravagantly theatrical manner.

adj.

4. campy: camp Hollywood musicals of the 1940s.

[1905-10; perh. dial. camp impetuous, uncouth person (see KEMP¹); hence, slightly objectionable, effeminate, homosexual; in some senses prob. special use of CAMP¹ brothel, meeting place of male homosexuals]

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(as used in expressions)

aide de camp

Camp David

Camp David Accords

concentration camp

Madeleine L'Engle Camp

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▪ military

      in military service, an area for temporary or semipermanent sheltering of troops. In most usage the word camp signifies an installation more elaborate and durable than a bivouac but less so than a fort or billet.

      Historically, the camps of the Roman legions are especially noteworthy. However long or short the encampment, the Romans always built a rampart of ditches, earth walls, and wooden palisades, within which the space was divided into headquarters, supply, and troop areas in accordance with an unvarying plan; a surprise attack always found the troops in familiar surroundings and able to orient themselves quickly even in darkness. So secure were Roman camps that many of them formed the nuclei of future cities in France, England, and elsewhere. The development of firearms rendered the fortified camp largely obsolete; camps henceforth tended to be unprotected except for security pickets and patrols and were situated behind established fighting fronts.

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