Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. to act ostentatiously and outrageously in a homosexual manner, although by no means restricted – verbally or physically – to the gay world.

1910		I.L. Pavia Jahrbuch für sexuelle Zwischenstufen No. 11 40: To camp – sich homosexuell-weibisch gebärden [GS].
1925		R. McAlmon Distinguished Air (1963) 10: Foster was camping, hands on hips, with a quick eye to notice every man who passed. [Ibid.] 11: It’s only that you are difficult when you camp around people who don‘t understand.
1932		‘R. Scully’ Scarlet Pansy 150: They burlesqued all life. This they designated ‘camping’ and to ‘camp’ brilliantly fixed one’s social status.
1950		K. Williams Diaries 1 Feb. 49: S. was on edge the whole time. Kept telling me not to camp. Really!
1961		‘Lou Rand’ Gay Detective (2003) 78: Sometimes they just sit and camp until three or four.
1992		Daring Hearts: Lesbian and Gay lives of 50s and 60s Brighton n.p.: We all would go round camping through the streets at all hours of night and early morning, you know, singing loud songs, one thing and another. We used to behave outrageously.

2. (UK juv.) to act in an exaggeratedly ‘gay’ manner in order to humiliate a boy who is, or is believed to be, homosexual.

2001

OnLine Dict. of Playground Sl. 🌐 (to go...) camping n. mincing up and down in front of a boy thought (or known) to be homosexual in order to humiliate him.

3. (S.Afr. gay) to solicit for a sexual partner.

2003

K. Cage Gayle 61/1: camp v. 1. solicit for sexual purposes.

4. (N.Z. prison) to act as an ‘out’ lesbian.

1999

D. Looser ‘Boob Jargon’ in NZEJ 13 28: camp v. To take part in lesbian activities.