Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • intransitive verb To depart secretly or suddenly.
  • intransitive verb To depart from a camp or camping ground.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To depart from a camp or camping-ground; break camp; march off: as, the army decamped at six o'clock.
  • In a general sense, to depart quickly, secretly, or unceremoniously; take one's self off; run away: as, he decamped suddenly.
  • To camp.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • intransitive verb To break up a camp; to move away from a camping ground, usually by night or secretly.
  • intransitive verb Hence, to depart suddenly; to run away; -- generally used disparagingly.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb intransitive To break up camp and move on.
  • verb intransitive To disappear suddenly and secretly.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb leave suddenly
  • verb run away; usually includes taking something or somebody along
  • verb leave a camp

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[French décamper, from Old French descamper, to strike camp : des-, de- + camper, to camp (from camp, camp; see camp).]

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Examples

  • They decamp from the nick and roaraway in a cloud of dust.

    The Sky Above Was Candy « POLICE INSPECTOR BLOG Inspector Gadget 2007

  • But late Friday protest leaders softened their stance, saying they would agree to decamp from the Thai capital's commercial center if Abhisit were to promise to dissolve parliament in 30 days.

    Top Stories From AOL News 2010

  • But late Friday protest leaders softened their stance, saying they would agree to decamp from the Thai capital's commercial center if Abhisit were to promise to dissolve parliament in 30 days.

    Top Stories From AOL News 2010

  • Perhaps this explains Ford’s subsequent decision to decamp from the South in search of a more gullible electorate.

    Matthew Yglesias » Chait on Ford 2010

  • Alarmed at my strange situation, I now sought to decamp, meaning to wait for Lady Crewe up stairs: but to even approach the door was impossible.

    The Diary and Letters of Madame D'Arblay — Volume 3 Fanny Burney 1796

  • The players have been forced to decamp while the historic building—with its sumptuous red velvet and gilded interior—is renovated.

    The Comédie-Française Pops Up in Paris Lennox Morrison 2012

  • He has also praised the Occupy movement and its message, while telling protesters they must decamp.

    L.A. Mayor Faces Test in Ouster of Occupy Protesters Tamara Audi 2011

  • In January, the University of Pennsylvania's West Coast business campus will decamp from the Folger Building, once home to the namesake coffee company, to the top floor of the Hills Plaza building, former headquarters of the Hills Bros. coffee company.

    Business-School Bulletin 2011

  • After the dust settled and Ms. Fox returned to LA, or her suite at the Soho Grand, or wherever stars decamp these days, the boy's parents, hair stylists Revi and Valery Joseph, asked if anyone had documented their son's star turn.

    Wheeling Out Hollywood Ralph Gardner Jr. 2011

  • Fresh off the heels of opening his second Bowery canteen, Peels, Mr. Somer plans to decamp to Brooklyn where he will whittle his own line of salvaged wood furniture.

    21st-Century Man 2011

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