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# chap

«chap» in Mova's school dictionary: **a man or boy, a fellow** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 3 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

noun (a chap, chaps); verb (chap, chaps, chapped, chapping)

### meaning for a pupil

1) (UK, informal, a bit old-fashioned) A chap is a man or boy, a fellow. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chap/#m1)

2) Chaps are leather leg coverings worn by cowboys over their trousers. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chap/#m2)

3) To chap is for skin or lips to become dry, rough and cracked, usually from cold or wind. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chap/#m3)

4) (Scotland, Northern Ireland) To chap is to knock on a door. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chap/#m4)

5) In old books, chap is a short way of writing chapter, such as "chap. vii" for chapter seven. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chap/#m5)

### sense in the lessons

In British stories and older books, «a nice chap», «old chap» are friendly ways to talk about men. In winter health tips: «chapped lips», «lip balm». In westerns, cowboys wear chaps. Phrases: «a decent chap», «old chap», «chapped lips/hands».

### examples

- Mr Davies is a friendly chap who runs the corner shop. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chap/#x1)
- «Well done, old chap!» said Grandpa. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chap/#x2)
- My lips are chapped from the cold wind. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chap/#x3)
- Use hand cream so your hands don't chap. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chap/#x4)
- The cowboy pulled on his leather chaps. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chap/#x5)
- (Scotland) Chap the door and see if he's in. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chap/#x6)
- The little chap has saved our lives now.” [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chap/#x7)

### note

Plural «chaps». Mostly British; Americans say «guy», Australians «bloke». Double the p: chapped, chapping. «Chap» is not short for «chapter» (that is «chap.» with a full stop in writing).

### In the corpora

- [The Rat: «Look here, Mole old chap, you seem dead tired.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/42-willows-ch5-part2-mole-end/14/)
- [Bustle about, old chap!»](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/43-willows-ch5-part3-sardines-and-carol-singers/22/)
- [Cold wind and dry heating take water from the skin; licking your lips makes them more chapped, and lip balm helps.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/medicine/15-eczema-and-other-skin-troubles/11/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «chap» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chap/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.