chap

¹ American  

[chap] / tʃæp /

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.

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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 American  

[chap] / tʃæp /

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.

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chap ³ American  

[chop, chap] / tʃɒp, tʃæp /

noun

1. Usually chaps chop.

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chap. ⁴ American  

Or Chap.

abbreviation

1. Chaplain.

2. chapter.

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chap ¹ British  

/ 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)

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noun

1. (usually plural) a cracked or sore patch on the skin caused by chapping

2. a knock

chap. ² British  

abbreviation

1. chaplain

2. chapter

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chap ³ British  

/ tʃæp /

noun

1. informal a man or boy; fellow

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chap ⁴ British  

/ tʃɒp, tʃæp /

noun

1. a less common word for chop 3

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Other Word Forms

• unchapped adjective

Etymology

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

Origin of chap³

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

Example Sentences

I know people are chapped about start/stop systems, which cycle engines off and on when the vehicle is not moving, in order to save fuel.

From The Wall Street Journal

"I mean the bar staff here carry the beer over to the older chaps. You do not get that in many pubs but this pub is great, that is why we are here."

From BBC

But this stammering, rather dull chap doesn’t come across as a genius.

From Los Angeles Times

"They just went to a random door and chapped it."

From BBC

“But perhaps that’s a bad idea. The old chap came to a gooey, gruesome end, after all. What do you think, Quinzy? Is it bad luck to name the child Edward?”

From Literature

Related Words

• bloke
• lad