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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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About this entry:
First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Kemper, n. [Usual in this sense in mod. Sc. and north. Eng. dial., f. kemp v. (= Kempv.), applied commonly to reapers in the harvest-field competing to be first to finish their respective rigs. (Cf. also Kemp n. 3.)] A reaper who competes to finish his rig first; a champion reaper. —a1598 Ferg. Prov. (1641) 2 b.
All the corne in the countrey is not shorne by kempers

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