comp n.
1. a compositor.
![[UK]](/static/img/flags/uk.png "United Kingdom") | Sportsman 17 Dec. 3/4: I stood before the world a journeyman comp . | |
![[Aus]](/static/img/flags/aus.png "Australia") | Bulletin (Sydney) 24 Jan. 7/1: [A] young lady, named Ruth Whiting, who is now engaged as a ‘stamp picker’ in a newspaper office […]. Ruth was not always a comp.; in fact, she was evidently originally intended for far greater things. | |
| Sporting Times 6 Mar. 2/5: Heaven help the poor comp who has to set up his copy. | |
| Music Hall & Theatre Rev. 22 Mar. 7/2: The line, ‘Those gentle eyes be dim’d,’ which the blank, blank comp set up as ‘Those gentle eyes be dam’d’. | |
| Truth (Sydney) 4 Nov. 5/4: There was trouble ‘mid the comps’ on the ‘Tophetickle ’Tizer’. | |
| Sporting Times 6 Jan. 2/1: The comps have declared with one voice that it is quite torture enough to have to set up handwriting at this festive season without being lumbered with any more crotchets or demisemiquavers. | |
| Fact’ry ’Ands 112: He recollected that the comps had fraternised warmly with Eric since yesterday morning. | |
![[US]](/static/img/flags/us.png "United States") | ‘Clipped Words’ in DN IV:ii 129: comp, from companion. A compositor. |
2. (US) a compliment.
| letter in Under The Flag (1961) 24 Nov. 217: He [...] said ‘Give her my Comps’. | |
| Wolfville 274: Red Dog sends its comps, an’ asks Wolfville to bury the hatchet for one day in honor of to-morrow bein’ Thanks givin’. | |
| ‘Clipped Words’ in DN IV:ii 122: comp, from compliment. ‘I heard a nice comp for you the other day.’. | |
| in DARE. |
3. a complimentary pass or ticket; also attrib.
| Lantern (N.O.) 27 Aug. 2: Thanks for comps. | |
| Cornhusker in DN IV:ii 133: ‘Rag’ Elliott gives comps to the Majestic. | |
 | ‘Double Feature’ in N.Y. Age 3 July 7/1: [A] person receives ticket after ticket and ‘comp’ after ‘comp’. | |
| Jimmy Brockett 97: Put all the Labour members for New South Wales on the comp. list. | |
| , | | DAS. |
| Street Talk 2 86: My sister gave me a comp to her performance tonight. | |
| (con. late 1950s) Amaze Your Friends (2019) 44: A couple of times I’d slung them comps. |
4. (US campus) a course in English composition.
| ‘College Words and Phrases’ in DN II:i 29: comp, n. Essay, or other exercise in composition. | |
| Amer. Thes. Sl. | |
| , | | DAS. |
5. (US) a complimentary gift, e.g. as given to ‘high-rolling’ gamblers by a resort hotel; thus also one who receives such hospitality; also attrib.
| ‘Hotel Sl.’ in AS XIV:3 Oct. 239/2: comp Non-paying guest. | |
| , | | DAS. |
| Friends of Eddie Coyle 137: Two weeks ago I took a comp trip, I went to Nassau. | |
| Love Is a Racket 122: There’s always a comp room and meal somewhere for you in Vegas if you’re willing to lose enough. |
6. competition.
| N.Y. Amsterdam News 3 July 16: Your’n truly could be considered [...] stiff comp [...] for The Burley. | |
| Jimmy Brockett 143: Six nominations for the comp from each theatre. | |
| Oz 3 3/1: Here’s my entry for when you come to your sense and run a comp. for us. | |
| Sky Ray Lolly 24: The Old Vic’s Spring Awakening’s borstal scene / contained a masturbation comp. | |
| Street Talk 2 28: This opponent’s gonna be no comp for me. | |
| Bug (Aus.) 1 Oct. 🌐 I am sure that The Bash is not the only true league fan who does not want to see a unified comp bled dry by Nudes Unlimited. | |
| Peepshow [ebook] ‘Honey’s in the Miss Striptease Finals’ [...] ‘You in the comp this year?’. |
7. compensation; also attrib.
| Portland Oregonian 4 Oct. I 18: The comparatively low benefits they will receive under ‘workmen’s comp.’ [HDAS]. | |
| Serial 86: Harvey owed her [...] back pay and workperson’s comp. | |
| Skin Tight 139: He might go deaf and have to file a workman’s comp. | |
| Lucky You 73: The disabled-parking permit he’d scammed off the company doctor for the workmen’s comp claim. | |
| Outlaws (ms.) 133: Just a little bit of comp for them in case the company decides to get iffy. | |
| Opal Country 158: ‘Workers comp. That’s what he said’. |
8. (US) a musical composition.
| Rockabilly (1963) 51: The combo began a soft comp. |
9. comprehensive school.
| Blow Your House Down 82: I stood outside the Comp and I watched a bloke pick a girl up. | |
| Guardian G2 8 June 3: Young Douglas went to inner-city comp. |
10. a compilation; usu. attrib.
| Guardian Rev. 29 Jan. 4: In the technological age, comp tapes represent one of the few occasions when you get to see the handwriting of people you consider to be your soul mates. |
11. a comparison.
| Portable Promised Land (ms.) 71: But seein as everythin started in Africa the comp ain’t really fair. We been walkin a little longer than all the rest a them. |