champion

champion · noun, adjective, verb¹

1. Proto-Indo-European*kh₂em-
2. Proto-Indo-European*kh₂ém-po-s
3. Proto-Italic*kampos
4. Latincampus
5. Proto-West Germanic*kamp
6. Proto-West Germanic*kampijan
7. Frankish*kampijō
8. Medieval Latincampiō
9. Old Frenchchampiun
10. Middle Englishchampioun
11. English todaychampion

From Middle English champioun, from Old French champion, from Medieval Latin campio (“combatant in a duel, champion”), from Frankish *kampijō (“fighter”), from Proto-West Germanic *kampijō (“combat soldier”), a derivative of *kampijan (“to battle, to campaign”), itself a derivative of *kamp (“battlefield, battle”), ultimately a borrowing in West-Germanic from Latin campus (“a field, a plain, a place of action”). Cognate with Old English cæmpa, cempa (“soldier, warrior, champion”), Old High German kempfeo, kempfo (“fighter, warrior, champion”), whence archaic German Kempfe (“fighter”).

Champion · proper noun²

* As an English surname of Norman origin, as well as French, from the noun champion. * Also as an English surname of Norman origin, from the placename Champagne.

Words from the same roots