old chap

American  

noun

Chiefly British: Older Use.

1. (used in informal direct address to a man of any age.)

---

Etymology

Origin of old chap

First recorded in 1815–25

Example Sentences

Neighbors possibly felt the same way in Argentina when the kindly old chap who lived downstairs was arrested as a war criminal.

From New York Times • Oct. 11, 2017

As he wrote when he first read Gillette's stage adaptation: "It's good to see the old chap back."

From BBC • Jan. 25, 2015

And so whatever epiphany may be in store for this annoying character is - sorry, old chap - rather too little, and too late.

From Washington Times • Sep. 3, 2014

The idea is, old chap, you have to let go of what you have.

From Salon • Sep. 10, 2013

I hope that when I sent the old chap off in the crossbow capsule, I wasn’t shooting him toward his death.

From "The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge" by M.T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin