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.

chap.

⁴

Or Chap.

abbreviation

1. Chaplain.

2. chapter.

chap

¹

/ 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.

²

abbreviation

1. chaplain

2. chapter

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

• unchapped 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

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

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

Read more on Los Angeles Times

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

Read more on 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?”

Read more on Literature

“And here’s some admiring bits about the admiral: stern of jaw, broad of shoulder, never blinks at danger. Sounds like quite a chap.”

Read more on Literature

“Say, Faucet old chap, come join me in my study for a cigar. Too much chitchat going on in here, what?”

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• bloke 
• lad