Forms: 6 cherip, 7 cherrip, cherrup, 7–9 cherup. 7– chirrup. [Evidently formed from chirp, by trilling the r, and developing an additional syllable, to indicate a corresponding variation of sound. But it was thus brought into phonetic association with cheer, cheerful, cheer up, which have acted powerfully upon its sense-development, so that chirrup now conveys a more sprightly or cheery notion than chirp.]
1. intr. Of birds, etc.: To chirp, esp. with a more sustained and lively effect, approaching to twittering or warbling.
1579. [see CHIRRUPING vbl. sb.].
1637. G. Daniel, Genius of this Isle, 358. Birds cherup in the woods, And mingle notes. Ibid. (1649), Trinarch., To Rdr. 125. Finches are taught to Cherrip with the Quill. Ibid., Rich. II., 314. If the Great Ones Sing The smaller Cherrup.
1766. Goldsm., Hermit. The cricket chirrups in the hearth.
1840. Browning, Sordello, VI. 461. Cherups the contumacious grass-hopper.
1864. Tennyson, The Grandmother, x. Whit, whit, whit, in the bush beside me chirrupt the nightingale.
b. trans. with cognate object.
1645. G. Daniel, Poems, Wks. 1878, II. 70. The poore wren Cherups what the Larke doth Sing.
1865. Livingstone, Zambesi, ix. 189. [The ant] chirrups a few clear and distinct notes.
2. intr. Of persons: To make a sharp thin sound (by suction) with the lips compressed by way of encouragement or greeting (to a horse, an infant, etc.).
a. 1728. Vanbrugh, Journ. Lond., II. (1730), 241. If I do but chirrup to her, she’ll hop after me like a tame sparrow.
1860. Holland, Miss Gilbert, vi. 93. Dr. Gilbert chirruped to the little black pony.
1879. Browning, Ivan, 100. Start him on the road: but chirrup, none the less.
b. trans. To greet or incite by chirruping.
1784. Cowper, Task, III. 9. He cherups brisk his ear-erecting steed.
1861. Mrs. Stowe, Pearl Orr’s Isl. (ed. 3), 20. Trotted, chirruped in babyhood on their knees.
c. slang. To cheer or applaud (public performers) for a consideration. Hence Chirruper = F. claqueur.
1888. Pall Mall Gaz., 6 March, 4/2. A ‘chirruper’ … excused himself at the Lambeth police-court yesterday by alleging that ‘he thought there was no harm in it.’ Ibid., 9 March, 14/1. Chirruping…. Will you permit me to add a hint as to the etymology of the word?… The French argot for blackmail is chantage. Such paltry operations as those reported from the Lambeth music-hall do not merit the description of singing—they are simply twittering or ‘chirrupping.’
1888. J. Payn, in Illustr. Lond. News, 17 March, 268. The players and singers in music-halls cannot, it seems, do without him [the ‘chirruper’].
3. intr. To speak or sing in sprightly tones.
1775. Sheridan, Rivals, II. i. How she did chirrup at Mrs. Piano’s Concert!
1870. Emerson, Soc. & Solit., Domest. Life, Wks. (Bohn), III. 42. All … gabble and chirrup to him.
