champion sb. (3 Wyclif has ‘strong schampions and pileris of holy chirche’)
1.
fighting man, man of valour
1H6 III. iv. 19
“A stouter champion
never handled sword,”
Tit. I. i. 65
“Rome's best
champion.”
2.
one who does battle
in his own cause or for another in single combat
R2 I. iii. 5, Lr. V. i. 43, Per. I. i. 61, Ven. 596.
3.
one who defends a
person or a cause All'sW. IV. ii.
50,
John III. i. 255
“be champion of our
church,”
R2 I. ii. 43
“God, the widow's
champion.”
