chap

¹

[ chap ]

verb (used with object)

chapped, chapping.

1. to crack, roughen, and redden (the skin):

   The windy, cold weather chapped her lips.

2. to cause (the ground, wood, etc.) to split, crack, or open in clefts:

   The summer heat and drought chapped the riverbank.

verb (used without object)

chapped, chapping.

1. to become chapped.

noun

1. a fissure or crack, especially in the skin.
2. Scot. a knock; rap.

chap

²

[ chap ]

noun

1. Chiefly British Informal: Older Use. a fellow; man or boy.
2. Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S. a baby or young child.
3. British Dialect. a customer.

chap

³

[ chop, chap ]

noun

1. Usually chaps. chop ³( def 1 ).

chap.

⁴

or Chap.

abbreviation for

1. Chaplain.
2. chapter.

chap.

¹

abbreviation for

1. chaplain
2. chapter

chap

²

/ tʃæp /

verb

1. (of the skin) to make or become raw and cracked, esp by exposure to cold
2. (of a clock) to strike (the hour)
3. to knock (at a door, window, etc)

noun

1. usually plural a cracked or sore patch on the skin caused by chapping
2. a knock

chap

³

/ tʃæp /

noun

1. informal.
   a man or boy; fellow

chap

⁴

/ tʃɒp; tʃæp /

noun

1. a less common word for chop 3

Other Word Forms

• un·chapped adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of chap¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English chappen “(of a fruit) to split open, burst; (of skin) to crack, chap”; cognate with Dutch kappen “to cut”; akin to chip ¹

Origin of chap²

First recorded in 1570–80; short for chapman none

Origin of chap³

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English chop, chappe “jaw, jawbone”; perhaps special use of chap ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of chap¹

C14: probably of Germanic origin; compare Middle Dutch, German kappen to chop off

Origin of chap²

C16 (in the sense: buyer): shortened from chapman

Example Sentences

And to answer Roan’s initial “chaps” question, there are some country singers, both historical and contemporary, who most definitely recognize the genre’s queer possibilities.

From Los Angeles Times

“The chaps there, we call them,” he said, a term I had never heard for chapines — Guatemalans.

From Los Angeles Times

If untended, it has below the green top what some people call “petticoats” of dead leaves, but I think they look like those furry chaps that silent movie cowboys used to wear.

From Los Angeles Times

Remembering her stepson as "an amazing chap", Ms Dyche, who lives near Leominster, said: "He only had to walk into the house and it put a smile on my face."

From BBC

"He is just as funny off stage as he is on stage, a great chap, I like him," said David.

From BBC

Related Words

• bloke
• lad