old chap

noun

, Chiefly British: Older Use.

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of old chap¹

First recorded in 1815–25

Example Sentences

"You could join in, old chap," Laszlo generously offers, further enticing Nandor with a gentlemanly, "Room at the back!"

From Salon

On the occasion of a Rousseau retrospective at London’s Tate Modern in 2005, artist Dexter Dalwood made the point that Rousseau “wasn’t just this gentle, simple old chap … who spent his Sundays painting. … He was quite wily and difficult; he drank a lot and got into problems with money. He received a two-year suspended sentence for bank fraud. There was a lot more of the ‘street’ in him than some would like to believe.”

From Washington Post

And so GOD bless you, dear old Pip, old chap, GOD bless you!”

From Literature

And the dear old home-voice answered, “Which it air, old chap.”

From Literature

“Which dear old Pip, old chap,” said Joe, “you and me was ever friends. And when you’re well enough to go out for a ride—what larks!”

From Literature