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intr.v. scam·pered, scam·per·ing, scam·pers To run or go quickly and lightly: children scampering off to play. n. A quick light run or movement. [Probably from Flemish schampeeren, frequentative of obsolete Dutch schampen, to run away, decamp, from Middle Dutch ontscampen, from Old French escamper, from Old Italian scampare, from Vulgar Latin *excampāre, from Latin ex campō, out of the field : ex, away; see EX- + campō, ablative of campus, field; see CAMPUS.] |
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