chap

1
[ chap ]
See synonyms for chap on Thesaurus.com
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.

Origin of chap

1
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 chip1

Other words from chap

  • un·chapped, adjective

Other definitions for chap (2 of 4)

chap2
[ 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.

  1. British Dialect. a customer.

Origin of chap

2
First recorded in 1570–80; short for chapman

Other definitions for chap (3 of 4)

chap3
[ chop, chap ]

noun
  1. Usually chaps . chop3 (def. 1).

Origin of chap

3
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English chop, chappe “jaw, jawbone”; perhaps special use of chap1

Other definitions for chap. (4 of 4)

chap.

abbreviation
  1. Chaplain.

  2. chapter.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use chap in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for chap (1 of 4)

chap1

/ (tʃæp) /


verbchaps, chapping or chapped
  1. (of the skin) to make or become raw and cracked, esp by exposure to cold

  2. Scot (of a clock) to strike (the hour)

  1. Scot to knock (at a door, window, etc)

noun
  1. (usually plural) a cracked or sore patch on the skin caused by chapping

  2. Scot a knock

Origin of chap

1
C14: probably of Germanic origin; compare Middle Dutch, German kappen to chop off

British Dictionary definitions for chap (2 of 4)

chap2

/ (tʃæp) /


noun
  1. informal a man or boy; fellow

Origin of chap

2
C16 (in the sense: buyer): shortened from chapman

British Dictionary definitions for chap (3 of 4)

chap3

/ (tʃɒp, tʃæp) /


noun
  1. a less common word for chop 3

British Dictionary definitions for chap. (4 of 4)

chap.

abbreviation for
  1. chaplain

  2. chapter

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