vbl. sb. Obs. Forms: 1 céaping, -ung, céping, -inc, 3–6 cheping(e, (4 sheping, 4–5 chepyng(e, chepeing), 6 cheaping, cheeping. [f. CHEAP v. + -ING1.]
1. Bargaining; buying and selling, marketing, mercantile dealing.
a. 1000. Laws Athelstan, I. ¶ 24 (Bosw.). Ðæt nan ceaping ne sy Sunnan daȝum.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 15419. To þaim þat þe cheping did.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., VIII. xx. Þe house … of chepynges [1535 marchandize].
1580. Baret, Alv., C 403. A setting out to sale to him that will offer most: a prising; a cheaping, licitatio.
2. Market, a market-place.
c. 1205. Lay., 16682. Samuel nom Agag … & lædde hine a þan cheping.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 88. Vrom mulne & from cheping, from smiðe … me tiðinge bringeð.
1385. Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. I. 99. Stondinge ydel in þe cheping to be hired.
c. 1485. E. E. Misc. (1856), 63. Att churche, at chepyng, or at nale.
1563–87. Foxe, A. & M. (1684), I. 460/1. They love … the principal Chaires in Churches, and greetings in cheeping.
3. Merchandise, ware, goods. rare.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 213. Gif hit chepinge be þe me shule meten oðer weien.
4. Comb., as cheaping-booth, -place, -town. Also in proper names of English towns, as Chipping Barnet, Chipping Norton, Chipping Ongar, etc. (Cf. Market Drayton.)
c. 1200. Ormin, 16095. Ne birrþ ȝuw nohht mi Faderr hus Till chepinngboþe turrnenn.
c. 1330. Amis & Amil., 1700. Til thai com to a chepeing toun.
138[?]. Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. I. 317. Sum men clepen it cheping toun.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), IV. 211. Julius his ymage in þe chepynge place.
