chippy

[ chip-ee ]

/ ˈtʃɪp i /

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noun, plural chip·pies.

Also chippie. Slang.

a promiscuous woman.
a prostitute.

chipping sparrow.

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ALL IN FAVO(U)R OF THIS BRITISH VS. AMERICAN ENGLISH QUIZ

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Question 1 of 7

True or false? British English and American English are only different when it comes to slang words.

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Origin of chippy

An Americanism dating back to 1860–65; chipp(ing sparrow) + -y²; def. 1 apparently derivative of this sense, or from chip²

Other definitions for chippy (2 of 4)

chippy²

[ chip-ee ]

/ ˈtʃɪp i /

noun, plural chip·pies.

a chipmunk.

Origin of chippy

chip(munk) + -y²

Other definitions for chippy (3 of 4)

chippy³

[ chip-ee ]

/ ˈtʃɪp i /

adjective, chip·pi·er, chip·pi·est.

Ice Hockey. using or characterized by aggressive, rough play or commission of fouls: a chippy player;a chippy second period.

Canadian. ill-tempered; irritable.

Origin of chippy

First recorded in 1885–90; chip¹ (compare chip on one's shoulder) + -y¹

Other definitions for chippy (4 of 4)

chippy⁴

[ chip-ee ]

/ ˈtʃɪp i /

noun, plural chip·pies.British Informal.

a store selling fish and chips: I picked up some takeaway from the local chippy.

a carpenter.

Origin of chippy

⁴

First recorded in 1885–90; chip¹ + -y²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use chippy in a sentence

But more especially, the trouble was about Chippie's fox terrier, Blaster.
The Planet Strappers|Raymond Zinke Gallun
To my surprise, one day I heard a brown chippie lift up his voice and sing.
A-Birding on a Bronco|Florence A. Merriam
It couldn't have hit straighter if Chippie had been pitcher for the Sabbath Valley base ball team.
The City of Fire|Grace Livingston Hill
A brown chippie plumed his feathers unrebuked in their oak, making the place seem more deserted than before.
A-Birding on a Bronco|Florence A. Merriam

In comparison the chippie's trill sounds loud and clear and bell-like, with a distinctly melodious quality of tone.
Our Bird Comrades|Leander S. (Leander Sylvester) Keyser

British Dictionary definitions for chippy (1 of 5)

chippy¹

/ (ˈtʃɪpɪ) /

noun plural -pies

British informal a fish-and-chip shop

British and NZ a slang word for carpenter

NZ a potato crisp

Word Origin for chippy

C19: from chip (n)

British Dictionary definitions for chippy (2 of 5)

chippy²

/ (ˈtʃɪpɪ) /

adjective -pier or -piest

informal resentful or oversensitive about being perceived as inferiora chippy miner's son

Derived forms of chippy

chippiness, noun

Word Origin for chippy

C20: from chip (sense 12)

British Dictionary definitions for chippy (3 of 5)

chippy³

chippie

/ (ˈtʃɪpɪ) /

noun plural -pies

an informal name for chipmunk, chipping sparrow

British Dictionary definitions for chippy (4 of 5)

chippy⁴

chippie

/ (ˈtʃɪpɪ) /

noun plural -pies

informal, mainly US and Canadian a promiscuous woman

Word Origin for chippy

C19: perhaps from chip (n)

British Dictionary definitions for chippy (5 of 5)

chippy⁵

/ (ˈtʃɪpɪ) /

adjective -pier or -piest

belligerent or touchy

Word Origin for chippy

C19: from chip (n), sense probably developing from: as dry as a chip of wood, hence irritable, touchy

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012