champ

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Champed p. pr. & vb. n. Champing. ] [ Prob, of Scand. orgin; cf. dial. Sw. kämsa 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Foamed and champed the golden bit. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To bite into small pieces; to crunch. Steele. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. See Champaign. ] A light wine, of several kinds, originally made in the province of Champagne, in France. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. champaigne; same word as campagne. ] A flat, open country. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fair champaign, with less rivers interveined. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Through Apline vale or champaign wide. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Flat; open; level. [ 1913 Webster ]

A wide, champaign country, filled with herds. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ F. champ, L. campus field. ] (Arch.) The field or ground on which carving appears in relief. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who champs, or bites. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. champart field rent, L. campipars; champ (L. campus) field + part (L. pars) share. ] 1. Partnership in power; equal share of authority. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Beauté ne sleighte, strengthe ne hardyness,
Ne may with Venus holde champartye. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ By many authorities champerty is defined as an agreement of this nature. From early times the offence of champerty has been forbidden and punishable. [ 1913 Webster ]