[f. CHAP v.1 or its source.]
1. An open fissure or crack in a surface, made by chopping or splitting.
1553. Eden, Treat. New Ind. (Arb.), 16. Theyr skinne is very rowghe & full of chappes & riftes.
1563. Hyll, Arte Garden. (1593), 6. Ground … through the heat of Sommer full of chaps.
1607. Topsell, Serpents, 659. Bark of Birch, which … cleaveth and openeth it self into chaps.
1698. Keill, Exam. Th. Earth (1734), 117. These great Chaps and Cracks … made in the primitive earth by the strong action of the Sun.
1746. Da Costa, Belemnites, in Phil. Trans., XLIV. 397. A Chap or Seam running their whole Length.
b. esp. A painful fissure or crack in the skin, descending to the flesh: chiefly caused by exposure of hands, lips, etc., to frost or cold wind.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., VII. lxiv. (1495), 280. Lepra … makyth chappes, chynnes and clyftes.
1547. Boorde, Brev. Health, clvii. 56 b. A chappe or chappes beynge in the lyppes, tongue, handes and fete of a man.
1610. Barrough, Meth. Physick, III. xxiii. (1639), 138. Like the chaps which are made through a North wind on the lips.
1727–51. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Chilblain, Chaps, on the hands; and kibes on the heels.
1836. Todd, Cycl. Anat., I. 185/1. The margin … of the mouth, is subject to fissures, chaps, and superficial excoriations.
c. fig.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., IV. xv. § 16. 184 (Webster). There were many Clefts and Chaps in our Councel-board.
2. A stroke, knock, map. Sc. and north. dial.
1785. Burns, Scotch Drink, x. Then Burnewin comes on like death At ev’ry chaup.
a. 1808. Jamieson, Water-Kelpie, xxiii. in Scott, Minstr. Bord. Lie still, ye skrae, There’s Water-Kelpie’s chap [at door or window].
a. 1809. Christmas Ba’ing (Jam.). He did na miss the ba’ a chap.
3. The act of fixing upon as one’s choice; choice, selection. Cf. CHAP v. 8. Sc.
1768. Ross, Helenore, 114 (Jam.). Spare no pains nor care, For chap and choice of suits ye hae them there.
