Jump To:

• chap
  chap

  verb (used with object)

  to crack, roughen, and redden (the skin).
• chap.
  chap.

  abbreviation

  Chaplain.

chap

¹ American  

[chap] / tʃæp /

verb (used with object)

• chaps,
  present (3rd person singular)
• chapped,
  past participle,  past
• chapping
  present participle

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)

• chaps,
  present (3rd person singular)
• chapped,
  past participle,  past
• chapping
  present participle

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.

---

chap ³ American  

[chop, chap] / tʃɒp, tʃæp /

noun

1. Usually chaps chop.

---

chap. ⁴ American  

Or Chap.

abbreviation

1. Chaplain.

2. chapter.

---

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)

---

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

---

chap ³ British  

/ tʃæp /

noun

1. informal a man or boy; fellow

---

chap ⁴ British  

/ tʃɒp, tʃæp /

noun

1. a less common word for chop 3

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unchapped
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• chapping
  present
• chapped
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• chap
  simple
• chaps
  simple
• have chapped
  perfect
• has chapped
  perfect
• am chapping
  progressive
• are chapping
  progressive
• is chapping
  progressive
• have been chapping
  perfect progressive
• has been chapping
  perfect progressive

Past

• chapped
  simple
• had chapped
  perfect
• was chapping
  progressive
• were chapping
  progressive
• had been chapping
  perfect progressive

Future

• will chap
  simple
• will have chapped
  perfect
• will be chapping
  progressive
• will have been chapping
  perfect progressive

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

Explanation

A chap is a guy or a fellow — a boy or man who's a friend, acquaintance, or a friendly stranger. You might ask a chap on the bus if the seat beside him is free. You can refer to any male person as a chap, and you can also address him that way: "Hello there, old chap! I haven't seen you in ages!" It's more common in Britain than the US, where the chap will know what you mean but might look at you oddly. Chaps also means a cowboy's leather pants, and when it's a verb chap means to become dry, cracked, and painful from wind or cold.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

chap chap. chaps chapped chapping

He was believed to be a cheerfully overweight, somewhat enigmatic British chap with a delightfully macabre sense of humor.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

He sips small amounts of ice water because drinking too much is akin to licking one’s lips, causing them to chap.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 3, 2026

"We were approached by a chap called Augusto Odone who was the father of Lorenzo, which the product is named after," he recalls.

From BBC ● Dec. 14, 2025

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

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 25, 2025

“I think you’re a jolly useful chap whatever happens. You just stay and teach me, or be the librarian or something. Don’t you leave an old man alone, after the children have flown.”

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

"I went into that assessment expecting that I would be detaining that chap. Based on what we saw he was not detainable under the Mental Health Act," he told the inquiry.

From BBC ● May 7, 2026

Dannii Minogue wrote on Instagram: "The cheekiest chap. His voice, smile and dancing feet will be missed by so many."

From BBC ● Nov. 9, 2023

In his March 30 Free for All letter, “Chad cheers chap. Chap cheers Chad.,”

From Washington Post ● Apr. 12, 2019

The former England striker added on Twitter: "He's got one hell of a job on his hands but seems a decent chap. Needs a sizeable new broom."

From BBC ● Feb. 26, 2016

“D’you really think so? Oh, come on, Julian, old chap. I must share the blame. It was my barrack-room feeding habits that started the whole thing. You mustn’t blame yourself, old friend.”

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques

The three-hour extravaganza of chaps and cowboy boots has been lauded for its high-energy and artistry, and has delighted fans with appearances by Beyoncé and Jay-Z's daughters, Blue, 13, and Rumi, aged eight.

From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2025

As soon as she dropped her picture with the plain white tee and the chaps, from there I was like I definitely need to have chaps.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 2, 2025

From leather chaps to a vintage Dior coat, the items that these sellers shared are reminders of why they do what they do — and what makes a piece last a lifetime.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 12, 2024

But while on a ride in Idyllwild, I found these assless chaps, and I don’t think I’ll ever sell these ones, because I think this is the one piece that actually comes full circle.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 12, 2024

But the only way the job really differed from a normal taxi run was that the chaps she picked up obviously weren’t pilots.

From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein

The third day of the fire, he woke up with a runny nose, sore throat and chapped lips, he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 25, 2026

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 ● Dec. 11, 2025

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

From BBC ● Nov. 25, 2025

Herbalists recommend calendula lotions, creams, and ointments for chapped skin, eczema, minor cuts and burns, diaper rash, insect bites, hemorrhoids, athlete’s foot, and varicose veins.

From National Geographic ● Feb. 7, 2024

I may be a feminist fatale, but I can’t seem to do anything about these chapped lips.

From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray

Applying a thick layer of lip balm with moisturizing ingredients like petrolatum or shea butter before bedtime will also nourish your lips and prevent chapping, Rogers said.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 5, 2024

For dry lips, plain petroleum jelly is an effective and cheap way to prevent chapping, Burkemper said.

From US News ● Feb. 20, 2016

They secrete oil to cleanse the nipple opening and prevent chapping and cracking of the nipple during breastfeeding.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

The wicked, chapping gusts are not expected until afternoon.

From New York Times ● Jan. 25, 2013

In the winter he used oil to prevent chapping, and he kept the cuticles pushed down and his nails always filed to the shape of his finger-tips.

From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers

Related Words

• bloke
• lad