noun

kemp

kehmp

noun

Coarse, bristly hair or fiber, especially in wool, that will not felt or dye properly (archaic/technical).

"The weaver picked out the kemp before spinning the wool."

adj

Rough or shaggy in texture (archaic).

"The old sheepdog had a kemp, weather-worn coat."

How to Use Kemp

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn old or technical word for coarse, bristly hair or wool fiber.

When to use it

Rare outside textile and wool-industry contexts.

more kemp comparative, kemped past tense, kemps plural, kemps plural, kemps plural, Kemps plural, kemps singular, most kemp superlative

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The weaver picked out the _____ before spinning the wool.

From Old English cenep, meaning "moustache" or "bristling point", ultimately related to the word chin.

hemp temp