kempyn.
/ˈkɛmpi/, U.S. /ˈkɛmpi/, Scottish English /ˈkɛmpɪ/ Scottish and northern dialect.
A kemp or champion; one given to fighting; a rough or uncouth fellow.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > ruffianly conduct > ruffian > [noun]
routerc1300
tyrant1377
ruffy?a1513
ruffiana1525
kempy1525
cut-throat1535
slasher1559
cutter1569
hackster1574
hacker1576
cuttle1600
ruffiano1611
bully rook1673
thug1838
Apache1902
ned1910
rough-up1911
goonda1926
hoon1938
messer1942
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > violent behaviour > [noun] > rough or violent treatment > person
ploddera1500
kempy1525
slag1934
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > [noun] > prizefighter or professional fighter
kempa700
cockera1275
prizera1616
prizefighter1682
kempery-mana1765
kempy1821
kemper1891
1525 in R. Pitcairn Criminal Trials Scotl. I. 126* John Steill, alias Kempy Steill, convicted.
1821 W. Scott Pirate III. i. 8 When kempies were wont, long since, to seek the habitations of the gall-dragons and spae-women.
1879 E. Waugh Chimney Corner 158 ‘Never..quiet but when he're feightin'.’ ‘Ay; he're a regilar kempie’.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1901; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
kempyadj.
/ˈkɛmpi/, U.S. /ˈkɛmpi/ Of wool: Abounding in kemps or coarse hairs.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > wool > [adjective] > coarse or containing coarse hairs
strong1600
kempy1805
stitchy-haired1839
1805 J. Luccock Nature & Prop. Wool 242 Its wool was kempy, rough and thin.
1849 Rowlandson in Jrnl. Royal Agric. Soc. 10 ii. 427 The great quantity of kempy locks which compose the fleece of this breed.
1868 Daily News 8 Dec. Like a black-faced sheep, but rather kempy in the wool.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1901; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1525adj.1805