chap

¹

[ chap ]

verb (used with object)

, chapped, chap·ping.

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, chap·ping.

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 ³( def 1 ).

chap.

⁴

or Chap.

abbreviation for

1. Chaplain.
2. chapter.

chap

¹

/ tʃɒp; tʃæp /

noun

1. a less common word for chop 3

chap.

²

abbreviation for

1. chaplain
2. chapter

chap

³

/ tʃæp /

noun

1. informal.
   a man or boy; fellow

chap

⁴

/ 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

Other Words From

• un·chapped 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 none

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

C16 (in the sense: buyer): shortened from chapman

Origin of chap²

C14: probably of Germanic origin; compare Middle Dutch, German kappen to chop off

Example Sentences

"My mum kept the letters from him because she wanted me to marry another chap," explained Phyllis.

From BBC

Robbie and Ackerley founded Lucky Chap Entertainment with producers Josey McNamara and Sophia Kerr in 2014, the same year they began dating after meeting on the set of the film “Suite Française.”

From Los Angeles Times

Since its founding, Lucky Chap has produced Robbie starrers “I, Tonya,” “Birds of Prey” and “Barbie.”

From Los Angeles Times

Lucky Chap will reunite with Fennell for her “Wuthering Heights” adaptation, and will back upcoming movie treatments of “Monopoly” and the “Sims” video game franchise.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr Hamson, who now lives in Coven, in Staffordshire, said learning more about his background had made him become a "much nicer chap".

From BBC

Related Words

• bloke
• lad