Coarse, brittle fiber found in wool, especially from the outer coat of sheep. Also a surname of English origin meaning 'warrior' or 'champion'.
From Middle English 'kempe', meaning 'rough hair' or 'coarse fiber', possibly from Old Norse 'kempa' meaning 'beard' or 'whisker'. As a surname, derives from Old English 'cempa' meaning 'warrior'.
Kemp fibers are the wool industry's nemesis because they don't absorb dye, creating permanent white spots in colored fabric. Ironically, this defect led to some of the most beautiful tweeds, where kemp creates natural flecked patterns that became highly prized.
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