From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Champion \Cham"pi*on\ (ch[a^]m"p[i^]*[u^]n), n. [F. champion,
fr. LL.campio, of German origin; cf. OHG. chempho, chemphio,
fighter, champf, G. kampf, contest; perh. influenced by L.
campus field, taken in the sense of "field of battle."]
1. One who engages in any contest; especially one who in
ancient times contended in single combat in behalf of
another's honor or rights; or one who now acts or speaks
in behalf of a person or a cause; a defender; an advocate;
a hero.
[1913 Webster]
A stouter champion never handled sword. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
Champions of law and liberty. --Fisher Ames.
[1913 Webster]
2. One who by defeating all rivals, has obtained an
acknowledged supremacy in any branch of athletics or game
of skill, and is ready to contend with any rival; as, the
champion of England.
[1913 Webster]
Note: Champion is used attributively in the sense of
surpassing all competitors; overmastering; as, champion
pugilist; champion chess player.
Syn: Leader; chieftain; combatant; hero; warrior; defender;
protector.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Champion \Cham"pi*on\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Championed; p. pr.
& vb. n. Championing.] [Obs.] --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
2. To furnish with a champion; to attend or defend as
champion; to support or maintain; to protect.
[1913 Webster]
Championed or unchampioned, thou diest. --Sir W.
Scott.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
champion
adj 1: holding first place in a contest; "a champion show dog";
"a prizewinning wine" [syn: champion, prizewinning]
n 1: someone who has won first place in a competition [syn:
champion, champ, title-holder]
2: someone who fights for a cause [syn: champion, fighter,
hero, paladin]
3: a person who backs a politician or a team etc.; "all their
supporters came out for the game"; "they are friends of the
library" [syn: supporter, protagonist, champion,
admirer, booster, friend]
4: someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field [syn: ace,
adept, champion, sensation, maven, mavin,
virtuoso, genius, hotshot, star, superstar, whiz,
whizz, wizard, wiz]
v 1: protect or fight for as a champion [syn: champion,
defend]