Also 4–7 choppe, 5–6 chopp (6 cheoppe). [f. CHOP v.1 The senses fall into a number of groups derived from those of the verb, but having no mutual connection.]
I. from CHOP v.1 I.
1. An act of chopping, or cutting with blows of an axe, cleaver, etc.; a cutting blow or stroke.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. X. 187. Han þei none children bote chestes and choppes hem bitwene.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 7701. Than Achilles with a chop chaunset to sle Philles.
c. 1430. Syr Tryam., 763. Syr James had soche a chopp That he wyste not … Whethur hyt were day or nyght.
1519. Horman, Vulg., 209 § 11. He smote hymn with small choppis of the axe.
1563–87. Foxe, A. & M. (1631), III. 97/2. The executioner tooke the axe, and at the first chop stroke off his head.
1879. Browning, Ivanovitch, 37. Now some chop athwart the bole Changed bole to billets.
2. A piece chopped off; a slice, cutlet. Also fig.
1461. Paston Lett., 428, II. 72. He had ȝon [= given] ȝow and hym a choppe of xx. pownd of lond.
1622. Bacon, Hen. VII., 139 (J.). Empson would haue cut another Chop out of him, if the King had not died in the Instant.
1654. Gayton, Festiv. Notes, 267. Forrests were my delight, this but a chop is; I have exchang’d a Forrest for a Coppice.
b. spec. A slice of meat, usually mutton or pork, including generally a rib, intended to be cooked and served by itself.
1632. Massinger, City Madam, III. i. (1658), 34. Gape round about me, and yet not find a Chapman [printed Chapamn] That in courtesie will bid a chop of mutton, Or a pint of Drum-wine for me.
1663. Pepys, Diary, 9 July. Had a chop of veale.
1693. W. Robertson, Phraseol. Gen., 417. A cut or chop of meat.
a. 1734. North, Exam., I. ii. ¶ 117 (1740), 93. He kept no House, but lived upon Chops.
1796. Mrs. Glasse, Cookery, v. 76. Take a neck of mutton … cut it into chops.
1859. All Year Round, No. 29. 57. Rarely out of England is a first-rate broiled chop to be obtained.
† c. Twopenny chop: ? chopped meat in broth.
c. 1590. Greene, Fr. Bacon (1630), 39. Enter Miles with a messe of pottage and broth, and after him Bacon. Miles. Spill, sir? why, doe you thinke I neuer carried two-penny chop before in my life?
1618. Mynshul, Ess. Prison, 46. Feeds on twopenny chops and pottage.
3. An instrument or appliance for chopping.
1883. Cassell’s Fam. Mag., Aug., 528/1. The cylinder in turning presses against an iron bar called the ‘chop,’ which removes the skin of the cherry [= Coffee berry].
† 4. fig. Cf. ‘blow, stroke.’ Obs. (F. coup.)
1553. Bale, Gardiner’s Obed., B j b. God hathe in this sodayne cheoppe, taken awaye the libertie of his most pure playne worde.
1567. Drant, Horace, To Rdr. Howe … fortune through this chop or that chaunce turned their bless to baile.
1641. Best, Farm. Bks. (1856), 94 § 2. They [sheep] are wasters ever after such a choppe, and neaver come to theire former estate.
c. 1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, A Chop by chance, a rare Contingence [1725 New Cant. Dict., rare Booty].
† b. At the first chop: at the first stroke, encounter, brush (F. du premier coup); immediately, at once (F. tout à coup).
1528. Tindale, Obed. Chr. Man, Wks. I. 241. Let them … not believe them at the first chop whatsoever they say.
1548. Udall, Erasm. Par. Luke, Pref. 11. The worlde arose at the first chop with all his force.
1580. North, Plutarch (1676), 863. They were deceived of their hope at the first chop.
1611. Cotgr., Prinsault, presently … suddainely, at an instant, at the first chop.
c. 1640. J. Smyth, Lives Berkeleys (1883), 49. It will bee denyed at the first chop, that … the said Elizabeth was then livinge.
† c. At one (a) chop: at one stroke, at once, (F. tout d’un coup).
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 134 b. This lusty gallaunt … challengeth the field agaynst foure choise and tryed souldiours at one choppe together. Ibid., 477. Here be two lyes at a chopp.
1583. J. Stocker, Tragicall Hist., I. 47 a. Then the hangman letteth him slip at one choppe almost to the ground.
II. from CHOP v.1 II. (cf. sense 9 of vb.).
† 5. The act of suddenly striking up or down; a sudden or sharp turn.
1747. Hooson, Miner’s Dict., R ij. When Veins or Pipes take a chop up higher than ordinary into their proper Lids this is opposite to Troughing or Choping down.
III. from CHOP v.1 III.
† 6. A fissure, cleft, crack; a CHAP in the skin.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, 301. The joyntes, or cliftes, or choppes of Cleefes and Rockes.
1585. Lloyd, Treas. Health, G v. Choppes of ye gums and lippes.
1622–52. Heylyn, Cosmogr., III. (1652), 118. The many chops and chinks which the ardour of the Sunne makes in the sands thereof.
1657. W. Coles, Adam in Eden, lxx. 133. It is good for Chops in the hands or feet.
1712. W. Rogers, Cruising Voy., App. 15. Broken in chops, as is all that coast.
1767. Wesley, Wks. (1872), III. 299. His tongue turned black, with large chops in it.
IV. from CHOP v.1 IV.
† 7. A stroke as of a clock; in mod.Sc. CHAP.
1619. Z. Boyd, Last Battell (1628), 181 (Jam.). O what a city is in the dumbe choppe of the conscience! Ibid., 1203. The word without and the dumbe choppes of his Conscience within could not moue him to doe well.
V. [see CHOPPING ppl. a.1, 2.]
8. A short broken motion (of waves); choppiness. Also attrib. = choppy.
1858. Merc. Mar. Mag., V. 347. The unusual swell and short chop of a sea on, led him to think that he was in shoaler water.
1868. J. Saxon, Five Years in Gold. Gate, 235. Conflict with the horrors of the Caribbean ‘chop seas.’
VI. 9. Comb. Chop-eater. Also CHOP-HOUSE.
1836–9. Dickens, Sk. Boz (1866), 182. The chop-eater was so fatigued.
