"to run quickly," 1680s, probably from Flemish schampeeren, frequentative of schampen "run away," from Old North French escamper (Old French eschamper) "to run away, flee," from Vulgar Latin *excampare "decamp," literally "leave the field," from Latin ex campo, from ex "out of" + campo, ablative of campus "field" (see campus). A vogue word late 17c. Related: Scampered; scampering.