chippy

¹ American  

[chip-ee] / ˈtʃɪp i /

noun

plural

chippies

1. Slang. Also chippie.

   1. a promiscuous woman.

   2. a prostitute.

2. chipping sparrow.

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chippy ² American  

[chip-ee] / ˈtʃɪp i /

noun

plural

chippies

1. a chipmunk.

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chippy ³ American  

[chip-ee] / ˈtʃɪp i /

adjective

chippier, chippiest

1. Ice Hockey. using or characterized by aggressive, rough play or commission of fouls.

   a chippy player;

   a chippy second period.

2. Canadian. ill-tempered; irritable.

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chippy ⁴ American  

[chip-ee] / ˈtʃɪp i /

noun

British Informal.

plural

chippies

1. a store selling fish and chips.

   I picked up some takeaway from the local chippy.

2. a carpenter.

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chippy ¹ British  

/ ˈtʃɪpɪ /

noun

1. informal a fish-and-chip shop

2. a slang word for carpenter

3. a potato crisp

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chippy ² British  

/ ˈtʃɪpɪ /

adjective

1. informal resentful or oversensitive about being perceived as inferior

   a chippy miner's son

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chippy ³ British  

/ ˈtʃɪpɪ /

noun

1. an informal name for chipmunk chipping sparrow

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chippy ⁴ British  

/ ˈtʃɪpɪ /

noun

1. informal a promiscuous woman

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chippy ⁵ British  

/ ˈtʃɪpɪ /

adjective

1. belligerent or touchy

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Other Word Forms

• chippiness noun

Etymology

Origin of chippy¹

An Americanism dating back to 1860–65; chipp(ing sparrow) + -y ²; chippy ¹ def. 1 apparently derivative of this sense, or from chip ²

Origin of chippy²

chip(munk) + -y ²

Origin of chippy³

First recorded in 1885–90; chip ¹ (compare chip on one's shoulder ) + -y ¹

Origin of chippy⁴

First recorded in 1885–90; chip ¹ + -y ²

Example Sentences

With 40.5 seconds left in the third quarter, things got chippy on the court when Rickea Jackson slipped and limped off, sidelined for the remainder of the quarter.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 27, 2025

The Panthers boast three of the league’s most notorious pests on their roster, each of whom is renowned for trash talking, chippy hits, and enthusiastically physical play.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 18, 2025

The shift in energy was palpable in what became a chippy, physical game.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 1, 2025

Mr Chowdry has run the chippy for 10 years, but said he feels stuck as he cannot get insurance or any flood cover, with the latest storm costing about £10,000 in damages.

From BBC • Nov. 30, 2024

Day after day, his chippy chirpy perky self.

From "Crash" by Jerry Spinelli