▪ I. chop, n.1
(tʃɒp)
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 connexion.]
I. from chop v.1 I.
1. a. 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 W. Horman Vulg. 209 § 11 He smote hym 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 Ivan Ivanovitch 37 Now some chop athwart the bole Changed bole to billets. |
b. Freq. pl. A wood-chopping contest. Austral. and N.Z.
| 1926 K. S. Prichard Working Bullocks v. 48 He hewed his way through tough logs as though he were out to beat the champion in a chop. Ibid. viii. 84 One of the best axe-men in the sou'-west, Duck was champion in his day, and..he still entered for the chops. 1930 W. Smyth Wooden Rails vii. 108 There were standing chops, underhand chops, single and two-handed sawing contests. 1944 R. Park in Coast to Coast 42 ‘And the chops,’ he said. ‘I'd like to see Whaka Green making the chips fly.’ 1963 N. Hilliard Piece of Land 172 The fourteen-inch chop, championship of the North Island, about to start now! |
2. a. 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. a 1626 Bacon (J.), Empson would have cut another chop out of him, if the king had not died. 1654 Gayton Fest. 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.
| a 1640 Massinger City Madam iii. i, A chop of mutton, Or a pint of drum-wine. 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 H. 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.
| 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 G. Mynshul Ess. Prison 46 Feeds on twopenny chops and pottage. |
d. Material, esp. fodder, which has been chopped up. Also chop-feed.
| 1830 S. H. Collins Emigrant's Guide (ed. 4) 132 When it [sc. rye] is ground only (as it is used for bread in England) they here call it ‘chop’, and give it to cattle. 1852 Trans. Mich. Agric. Soc. III. 151 Chop feed is good for them in small quantities, say half a pint to a sheep. 1858 Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc. XIX. 507 With the chaff-cutter a fresh supply of chop is obtained daily. 1889 J. Wrightson Fallow & Fodder Crops 199 [He] is accustomed to cut rye and straw together and throw the ‘chop’ back into a barn. 1908 Animal Managem. 121 Chaff (‘Chop’). 1922 Outing (U.S.) July 184/3 When the cow had licked up the last bit of chop. |
e. A share, esp. in phr. to be in for one's chop. Austral. and N.Z. slang.
| 1919 Downing Digger Dial. 16 Chop, share. ‘To hop in for one's chop’—to enter in, in order to secure a privilege or benefit. 1964 Christchurch Star 14 Mar. 2/1 New Zealand is in for its chop [in the Concise Oxford Dictionary]... No one else calls a road a tar-sealed road. |
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. a. 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 T. Stocker Tragicall Hist. i. 47 a, Then the hangman letteth him slip at one choppe almost to the ground. |
d. Cricket. A stroke made by bringing down the blade of the bat sharply on the ball (see quot. 1966). Also chop-cut. e. Lawn Tennis. An undercut ground-stroke. Also chop-lob, chop-stroke.
| 1888 Steel & Lyttelton Cricket ii. 62 If the ball..keeps a bit low after the pitch, it is a most effective stroke to come heavily down on it; if the force is put on the ball at the right moment it will go very hard, and may be called a ‘chop’. 1913 Daily Mail 7 July 9/2 A sound batsman with a beautiful chop cut by third slip. 1920 Tilden Lawn Tennis p. x, An undercut ground stroke is the general definition of a chop. Ibid. 35 The chop lob, a heavily under-cut spin that hangs in the air. Ibid. 82 Tilden is a chop-stroke player. 1961 F. C. Avis Sportsman's Gloss. 254/2 Chop, a sharp stroke made by drawing the face of the racket on to the ball. 1966 Armchair Cricket 1966 95 Chop, a form of late cut, made by bringing the bat down sharply on the ball just as it is about to pass the batsman on the off-side. |
f. (to get) the chop or chopper: (to be) killed. Also transf. slang.
| 1945 C. H. Ward-Jackson Piece of Cake 19 To get the chop, to be shot down and killed or injured. 1956 A. Crawley Escape from Germany iii. 40 ‘The chop’ in Buchenwald meant execution or the gas chamber. 1957 J. Braine Room at Top xx. 176 We noncoms used to say got the chopper. Going for a Burton was journalist's talk. 1961 L. Payne Nose on my face viii. 139 Sounded to me like a death warrant... Sooner or later he'd have got the chop. 1968 R. Collin Locust on Wind vii. 80 The editor had got what he wanted... ‘I think my series has gone for the chop.’ 1971 Ink 12 June 12/2 The Anglo-Italian tournament..must be due for the chop. |
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. 1622–62 Heylyn Cosmogr. iii. (1682) 100 The many chops and chinks which the ardour of the Sun makes in the Sands. 1657 W. Coles Adam in Eden lxx. 133 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 (1629) 181 (Jam.) In the dumb choppe of the conscience. Ibid. 1203 The word without, and the dumbe choppes of his conscience within could not moue him to do well. |
V. [see chopping ppl. a.1, ppl. a.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 I. 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. |
▪ II. chop, n.2
(tʃɒp)
Also 6–7 chopp(e.
[Another form of chap n.2; and the more usual one in several senses. Choip in the quot. of 1505 (which occurs in a printed text of 1508) is the earliest trace of the word in any form: with this exception the chap form is evidenced earlier. The variation may have arisen from association with the other words in which chap varies with chop.]
1. A jaw.
| c 1505 Dunbar Flyting 166 Thy cheik bane bair..Thy choip, thy choll, garris men for to leif chest. 1709 Steele Tatler No. 44 ¶5 There is a Thread on one of Punch's Chops, which draws it up, and lets it fall. a 1839 Praed Poems (1864) II. 96 His fallen chop Most eloquently tells. |
b. usually pl. Jaws; sides of the face.
| 1615 Crooke Body of Man 124 The muscles of the choppes. a 1616 Beaum. & Fl. Thierry iii. 460 He..laies me over the chops with his club fist. 1656 Ridgley Pract. Physick 223 Make deep scarification under the Chops. 1712 Arbuthnot John Bull (1727) 86 To give Nic. a good slap on the chops. 1731 Swift Wks. (1841) II. 50 If thou hadst as much brains in thy skull as beard on thy chops. 1875 B. Taylor Faust iv. ii. II. 247 His cheekbones and his chops are shattered. 1877 Holderness Gloss. (E.D.S.), Chops, the jaws. ‘Ah'll slap thy chops fo' tha'’. |
2. pl. The jaws and intervening space, the cavity of the mouth, fauces, parts about the mouth; = chap n.2 2. (This is the more usual form in contemptuous or humorous application to men.)
| 1589 Hay any Work (1844) 69 Whose good names can take no staine, from a bishops chopps. 1597–8 Bp. Hall Sat. iii. vi. 8 Downe he dips his chops deepe in the myre, And drinks. 1632 Lithgow Trav. (1682) 421 Two Hens..changed, as they grow fat for the Priests Chops. 1655 R. Fellowes tr. Milton's 2nd Defence 227 The sight of this egg..caused our monarchy-men..to lick their chops. 1733 Fielding Int. Chamberm. i. v, My chops begin to water. 1748 tr. Vegetius' Distemp. Horses 37 Mixed with hot Water, and..poured down the Animal's Chops. 1849 Thoreau Week Concord Riv. Tuesd. 206 The nut stowed away in its chops. 1864 E. Capern Devon Prov., Chops, the mouth. |
3. transf. An appellation for a person with fat or bloated cheeks.
| 1596 Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, i. ii. 151 Fal. Ile hang you for going. Poy. You will, chops. 1597 ― 2 Hen. IV, ii. iv. 235. 1611 Cotgr., Fafelu, Puffed vp, fat cheeked, a chops. |
4. transf. The mouth, opening, or entrance of an abyss, cannon, valley, channel, etc.
| 1636 Featly Clavis Myst. v. 64 In the very chops of destinie, or jawes of death itselfe. 1697 Bp. Patrick Comm. Ex. xiv. 2 They were to enter by the Chops of Pihahiroth. 1727 Swift Poems, To Delany, He runs into a cannon's chops. 1737 Whiston Josephus, Antiq. ii. xv. §3 Which army they placed at the chops of the mountains. |
b. chops of the Channel: the entrance into the English Channel from the Atlantic.
| 1692 Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) II. 646 A squadron of 13 French men of warr sailed from Brest..to lye in the chops of the Channell. 1748 Anson's Voy. iii. x. (ed. 4) 548 Cruising in the chops of the Channel. 1832 Marryat N. Forster xi, The brig was not far off from the chops of the Channel. a 1845 Hood Supper Superst. vi, When down she went with all our hands, Right in the Channel's Chops. |
5. Mech. The ‘jaws’ or ‘cheeks’ of a vice, etc.
| 1884 F. J. Britten Watch & Clockm. 36 Two chops, free to slide between guides, embrace the pendulum spring. |
† 6. Comb.
| 1745 tr. Columella's Husb. v. vi, The chops-shoot is that which springs out of the middle, between two arms of the vine, as it were, in a fork. |
▸ In pl. Jazz (orig. U.S.). a. The power of a trumpeter's embouchure.
| 1947 in R. S. Gold Jazz Talk (1975) 48 He might not have the chops he used to have, but his ideas are always fine. 1966 L. Armstrong Self-Portrait 40 I'd go wild in those solos—up there in the high register all the time, and if I had some more chops left, just use 'em some more. 1993 Newsweek 18 Jan. 39 Others would've killed to have his [sc. Dizzy Gillespie's] chops. |
b. A jazz musician's skills; (in extended use) talent or skill in any field.
| 1968 in A. Chapman New Black Voices 147 Maybe you could get your chops together on this horn. 1973 ‘D. Ellington’ Music is my Mistress 247 Musicians..who like to get together once or twice a week to try out their chops. 1990 Boston Phoenix 27 Apr.–3 May pls9/2 Most academic writers just don't have the chops to make riveting reading out of the quiltwork of 19th-century farm wives. 2003 Sunday Herald (Glasgow) 29 June (Review) 4/1 It was a comic role, but one that required serious acting chops. |
▪ III. chop, n.3
(tʃɒp)
[f. chop v.2]
1. An exchange, a barter.
| a 1670 Hacket Abp. Williams i. 187 (D.) The Duke..drew on the King hardly to make a chop with those demeasnes. |
2. chop and change: a change, alteration; cf. chop v.2 4.
| 1759 Sterne Tr. Shandy i. xi, Surnames..which, in a course of years, have generally undergone as many chops and changes as their owners. 1835 Marryat Jac. Faithf. xvi, At last we were all arranged..although there were several chops and changes about, until the order of precedence could be correctly observed. a 1845 Hood To Kitchener iii, Like Fortune, full of chops and changes. |
▪ IV. chop, n.4
[f. chop v.3]
A snap with the jaws or mouth. (Quot. 1693 may belong to chop n.1)
| a 1653 G. Daniel Idyll v. 160 Give a double Choppe On the Mouth-fitting Vowel. 1693 Evelyn De la Quint. Compl. Gard. I. 124 [An apple that] requires to be Eaten greedily, and at a chop; that is to say, without Ceremony, and with its Coat all on. 1865 Dickens Mut. Fr. II. 298 ‘No’ said Miss Wren, with a chop. |
▪ V. chop, n.5
(tʃɒp)
Also 7 chaup, 8 chap(p, (tiapp), 9 chhap.
[ad. Hindī chhāp impression, print, stamp, brand, etc.: see Yule. The word has been carried by European traders to China, where it is now used in senses that have become obsolete in India.]
1. In India, China. A seal or the impression of a seal; an official impress or stamp.
| 1614 Milward in Purchas Pilgr. I. 526 (Y.) The King [of Achen] sent us his Chop. 1678 Lett. from Dacca Fact. in India Office (Y.), Alledging that they came without y⊇ Visiers Chaup to him. 1696 J. Ovington Voy. Suratt 251 (Y.) Upon their Chops as they call them in India, or Seals engraven, are only Characters, generally those of their Name. 1818 Jas. Mill Brit. India III. 340 Mr. Pigot is said to have seized his chop, or seal, and applied it to the paper. 1859 Simmonds Dict. Trade, Chhap, an official mark on weights and measures, to indicate their accuracy; an eastern Custom-house stamp or seal on goods that have been examined and have paid duty. |
2. a. A licence, passport, etc., made valid by means of such a seal; generally, a properly authenticated official document, permitting or authorizing some act; a permit.
| 1699 W. Dampier Voy. II. i. i. 16 The Governor or his Deputy gives his Chop or Pass to all Vessels that go up or down. 1711 Lockyer Acc. Trade India 35 (Y.) This [Oath, at Acheen] is administered by the Shabander..and it is called receiving the Chop for Trade. 1745 P. Thomas Jrnl. Voy. S. Seas 300 Came on board a Chinese Interpreter, or Linguist, who brought with him a Chop, for our going over the Barr. 1771 Forster tr. Osbeck's Trav. China I. 181 (Y.) With Tiapp or passports. 1802 Capt. Elmore in Naval Chron. VIII. 382 The Hong merchant furnishes you with a chop to deliver your cargo. 1859 S. W. Williams Chinese Comm. Guide, Grand chop, a ship's port clearance. |
b. Hence chop-boat, ‘a licensed lighter employed in the transportation of goods’; chop-house, ‘a custom-house where transient duties are levied’ (Williams Chinese Comm. Guide).
| 1882 Fankwae at Canton 25 (Y.) On the edge of the river..were Chop houses..to prevent smuggling. |
3. China trade. A mark on goods to declare their nature, quality, etc.; a trade-mark; hence, a particular ‘brand’, sort, or class of goods bearing the same trade-mark. Also attrib.
| 1828 in Webster. 1859 S. W. Williams Chinese Comm. Guide, Chop of Tea, a number of boxes of the same make and quality of leaf. 1859 Simmonds Dict. Trade, Chop, a trade term in China for the entire bulk of a certain kind of tea brought to market, or the quantity made. 1861 Guardian 11 Nov., In China Silk..notwithstanding the continued small supply of ‘classical’ chops, the prices..have given way 6d. 1881 Manch. Courier 12 Jan., The only special chop in request has been ‘hand and branch’. |
4. a. Hence, Anglo-Ind. and colloq. first (second) chop: first (or other) rank, rate, position, quality, etc.; also attrib. no chop, ‘no class’ (Austral.).
| 1823 C. W. Wynn Let. in Dk. Buckingham Mem. Crt. Geo. IV (1859) I. 478, I must make my table up with directors, military men, and such like second chop. 1837–40 Haliburton Clockm. (1862) 7 It [a carriage] is a beautiful article—a real first chop—no mistake. 1848 Thackeray Bk. Snobs xxix, We are the first-chop of the world. Ibid. xl, They are a sort of second-chop dandies. 1872 Geo. Eliot Middlem. xiii. (D.), You must be first chop in heaven, else you won't like it much. 1888 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Robbery under Arms I. ii. 16 There's good and bad of every sort, and I've met plenty that were no chop of all churches. |
b. not much chop (also, rarely, chops), not up to much, of no or little value. Cf. cop n.7 2. Austral. and N.Z.
| 1909 H. B. Vogel Trag. Flirtation xxvii. 219 He ain't much chops, that doctor, I reckon. 1928 ‘Brent of Bin Bin’ Up Country ii. 19 ‘That old parson is not much chop, I don't reckon,’ he confided. 1947 D. M. Davin Gorse blooms Pale 207, I know it's not been much chop so far but we're only getting started. 1969 Coast to Coast 1967–68 83 The street is not much chop, but not seedy, rather claustrophobic from the eight-feet walls of grey concrete on each side. |
5. In China. ‘A hulk’ (Y.). [Of uncertain origin.]
| 1859 All Y. Round No. 2. 38 He lives in a ‘chop’—a floating house like a two-storied City barge, but larger. |
Hence chop v. (nonce-wd.)
| 1698 Fryer Acc. E. India 98 (Y.) The Custom-house has a good Front, where the chief Customer appears certain Hours to chop, that is to mark, Goods outward-bound. |
▪ VI. chop, n.6 W. Afr. colloq.
[Cf. chop v.6]
Food. Also attrib., as chop-day, chop-money, chop-room; chop-box, a food-box.
| 1805 H. Nicholls Let. 15 Feb. in R. Hallet Rec. Afr. Assoc. (1964) xi. 208 Their food is chop made of yam cut in slices, cayenne pepper, palm oil, and fowl, fish, goat or wild hog. 1863 R. F. Burton Wanderings W. Afr. II. ix. 144 ‘Palm-oil chop’ is the curry of the Western coast. 1870 Food Jrnl. I. 154 In those days,..every chief of any consideration had what was called his chop-day, or feast-day. 1897 M. Kingsley W. Afr. 313 The unfortunate white men..are expected..to live on native chop. 1898 R. A. Freeman Trav. & Life Ashanti & Jaman 363 Besides the chair and fan he carried a small ‘chop box’, i.e. a box containing the requisites for a meal and my portable tea service. 1902 Daily Chron. 10 July 3/5, 2s. a week ‘chop’ money or maintenance. 1904 J. M. Fremantle W. Afr. Jrnl. 10 Dec. (1938) 30 Pretty cram full with 100 bits of luggage, ‘chop-boxes’ mountain high. 1920 Blackw. Mag. June 844/2 Evans went in to the chop-room. 1935 [see coaster 3 b]. |
▪ VII. chop, v.1
(tʃɒp)
Also 4–7 choppe, (5–6 schoppe, 6 chopp, 7 chope).
[Another form of chap v.1 The evidence of the quotations as to their relative priority in date is not decisive, nor is any trace of the word in either form to be found in OE., or in the older stages of Teutonic. Chap coincides in sense with Du. kappen to chop, cut, mince, hew, lop, prune, late MDu. cappen to hew off, chop off, LG. (whence mod.G.) kappen, Da. kappe, Sw. kappa to cut, chop. But the type to which these point is *kappôn, OTeut. *kappôjan, and this would app. have given in OE. only *cappian, since a before double stops followed by guttural vowel, did not give æ in primitive OE. This again would have given ME. and modern *cap; while the OE. type of chap would be *ceappian, *cæppian. Thus, the relationship of the Eng. to the continental words cannot, at present, be made out.
Chop and chap were subsequently somewhat differentiated, chop becoming the proper word for branches I and II, while III and IV are left to chap. In some respects, the use of the chop forms, esp. in the n. (sense 2), suggests influence of F. couper, in 13–15th c. often coper; but whether the latter had, or could have, any influence on the rise or currency of the form chop is problematical.]
I. To cut with a blow.
1. a. trans. To cut with a quick and heavy blow; now always with a hewing, hacking instrument, as an axe or cleaver; formerly also with a sword.
| 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. iii. 253 Children and Cheorles, Chop hem to deþe. 1377 ― B. xii. 127 And medle we nauȝt muche with hem to meuen any wrathe, Lest cheste chafen vs to choppe vche man other. c 1400 Destr. Troy 8230 Achilles mony choise men choppit to þe erthe. 1490 Caxton Eneydos xxii. 83 Thei thre furyouse goddesses infernalle..kutten and choppen, breken and marren alle the werke. 1839 Sir C. Napier in Bruce Life iv. 132 Cavalry are only useful to bully a mob..by chopping them a little instead of destroying them by firearms. |
b. To make by this action.
| 1874 Knight Dict. Mech. I. 543/2 The cotton-chopper straddles the row, and chops wide gaps, leaving the plants in hills. |
2. With various adverbial extensions (precisely as with cut); as about, away, down, off, through, from anything, in two, in or into pieces, etc.
| 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. i. 64 Bote holy churche & charite choppe [v.r. chaste] a-doun swich shryuers. ? a 1400 Chester Pl. (1843) I. 161, I shall choppe of his heade. c 1400 Destr. Troy 1967 I shuld..chop þurghe þi chekes for chaterying so high. c 1400 Mandeville xix. 201 Thei choppen alle the Body in smale peces. 1583 Stanyhurst Aeneis iii. (Arb.) 92 Wee chopt of softlye the cables. 1593 Shakes. 2 Hen. VI v. i. 135 Chop away that factious pate of his. 1611 Bible Micah iii. 3 They breake their bones, and chop them in pieces. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 23 ¶4 The Pope..ordered..both his Hands to be chopped off. 1811 A. T. Thomson Lond. Disp. (1818) 26 Bones, chopped into small pieces. 1864 Tennyson Boadicea 68 Chop the breasts from off the mother. 1885 Mag. Art. Sept. 448/1 [He] chopped the windows about, to fit in heavy shutters. |
3. To cut (with an axe, cleaver, etc.) into pieces (usually for a purpose); to mince. This is = chop in pieces in 2. Also with compl., as to chop small. chop up: to subdivide thoroughly by chopping; also fig.
| ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 1026 Childre, Choppid in a chargour of chalke whytt sylver. 1523 Fitzherb. Husb. §44 Take..brome, croppes..and chop them very smal. 1527 Andrew Brunswyke's Distyll. Waters A ij b, The herbes or leves chopt. a 1535 G. Du Wes Introd. Fr. in Palsgr. (1852) 939 To chope brede, chapler. 1570 Levins Manip. 169 To chop herbes, concidere. 1714 Gay Trivia ii. 129 The Cleaver chops the Heifer's spoil. 1840 H. Rogers Ess. II. v. 251 Those complicated divisions and subdivisions into which our forefathers thought proper to chop up their discourses. 1849 R. T. Claridge Cold Water & Friction-Cure (1869) 89 Chopping or sawing wood is better exercise..than walking. |
| absol. 1669 Worlidge Syst. Agric. vj. §2 (1681) 92 Good to make Dressers, and Planks to chop on. Mod. In chopping fire-wood we want a block to chop on. |
4. intr. To aim a hacking or hewing blow at.
| 1399 Langl. Rich. Redeles 22 Ich man y-charchid to schoppe at his croune. c 1400 Destr. Troy 7259 He choppit to Achilles with a chere felle. 1859 Kingsley Misc. (1860) I. 202 He..chops at it fiercely and hastily. Mod. I found him with an ax chopping at one of the trees. |
5. trans. (fig.) To utter abruptly and disjointedly, with words or phrases cut short.
| 1865 Dickens Mut. Fr. iii. ii. 278 Chopping the exclamation with that sharp little hatchet of hers. 1882 Society 16 Dec. 19/2 She was somewhat nervous..and chopped her words. |
6. To harrow; = chip v.1 7. [Of doubtful connexion.]
| 1830 Galt Laurie T. ii. xi. (1849) 78 Having seven acres chopped, and three of them under crop. Ibid. 80 That 'ere chopping, I reckon, is tarnation hard work. |
II. To thrust or move with suddenness or force (as in delivering a blow).
† 7. a. trans. To thrust with sudden force. Obs. (Cf. colloq. to stick, clap.)
| 1560 Whitehorne Ord. Souldiours (1588) 33 b, The iust charge in pouder..may..be..put in bagges of linnen..which in a sodaine may be chopt into the mouth of a peece. 1581 J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 348 b, All these toyes, (which you have chopt into the Church at this day). 1594 Shakes. Rich. III, i. iv. 160 (Globe) We will chop [1623 throw] him in the malmsey-butt in the next room. 1618 Bolton Florus ii. xvii. 146 A Souldier chopt his javeline into him. 1620 J. Wilkinson Treat. Coroners & Sherifes 15 B. lying on the ground plucketh out his knife, and A. is so hasty to kill B. that he choppeth himselfe upon the knife of B. 1652 Sir C. Cotterell Cassandra ii. ii. (1676) 143, I chopp'd my hand suddenly into his [a lion's] throat. 1708 J. C. Compl. Collier (1845) 14 Have good strong wooden Plugs ready made, whilst boreing, to chop into the Bore-hole. |
b. to chop down, chop in, chop together. (Cf. to clap down, stick in, stick or clap together.) chop in (fig.): to interpolate, ‘clap’ or ‘stick’ in.
| 1550 Latimer Last Serm. bef. Edw. VI, i. 253 This covetous fellow..interrupted the sermon, even by suddenly chopping in ‘Master..speak to my brother.’ 1562 J. Heywood Prov. & Epigr. (1867) 104 She..chopt downe emptie candelsticks two or three. 1581 J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 418 A certein Gloaser, who..doth chopp in an exposition of his own. Ibid. Could this Lymbus be a fitt place to chopp the unbelevers and holy ones together? 1586 J. Ferne Blaz. Gentrie ii. 23 You chop so much vplandish in your tale, that by my troth, I scantly vnderstand the halfe of it. 1602 Rowlands Greene's Cony-catchers (1860) 29 By a fine tricke of Legerdemaine gathers it [a gold chain] vp into his hand, and chops the copper chaine in place. 1640 Sir E. Dering Prop. Sacr. (1644) 29 You chop in the word offer. 1656 Hobbes Liberty, Necess. etc. (1841) 327 He chops in and therefore, and makes an absurd consequence. |
c. absol. To cause to fall with a sudden jerk.
| 1708 J. C. Compl. Collier (1845) 11 We have two Labourers at a time at the handle of the bore Rod, and they chop, or pounce. |
d. Cricket. intr. To bring down the blade of the bat quickly and heavily on the ball; trans., to strike (the ball) in this way. e. Lawn Tennis. (Cf. chop n.1 4 d, e.)
| 1776 M. Angelo Juv. Sports (ed. 2) 82 If the ball runs so close to the ground, that you cannot make a fair blow at it..content yourself with chopping on the ball. 1887 Leisure Hour 544/1 Jupp and Humphry..blocked and chopped in a style that was simply maddening. 1898 Field 18 June 911/3 Little could be done but to chop Lockwood's off balls for singles. 1920 Westm. Gaz. 16 June 10/1 This drive is alternated with a cut-stroke, and sometimes with a heavily chopped return. 1930 Morning Post 17 June 16/3 Slater chopped a ball on to his stumps. |
† 8. intr. To go or come with sudden impetus, or with violence. Of voluntary action: to ‘strike’, dart, swoop, bounce, pounce, force oneself. Obs. a. esp. with in, into, to ‘strike’ in, thrust oneself in, enter forcibly, intervene, break in with a remark.
| 1535 Joye Apol. Tindale (Arb.) 20 So sodenly fyercely and boldely to choppe in to any mannis conscience. 1551 T. Wilson Logike 51 b, Some..choppe in at a windowe when the doore is shut up. 1585 Parsons Chr. Exerc. ii. iii. 252 Vnconstant menne, that nowe choppe in, and nowe runne out. 1600 J. Norden in Farr S.P. Eliz. (1845) II. 460 A change chops in of more inconstant rate. 1631–2 High Commission Cases (1886) 320 It was not wont that men should choppe in and talke soe when the Court is speakinge. 1663 Bp. Patrick Parab. Pilgr. xxxiv. (1668) 422 He..made no more ado but chopt into their company. 1697 Collier Ess. Mor. Subj. ii. (1709) 22 He presently orders the Musick to play grave, and chop into a Dorion. 1714 T. Ellwood Autobiog. 254, I..chopt in upon him, and kept him at a Bay. 1725 De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 204 [They] chop in with their nimble tongues. 1816 Scott Antiq. iii. How have I trembled, lest some passing stranger should chop in between me and the prize. |
b. Also with other constructions, as down, forth, off, out, etc.; to chop upon, to pounce upon.
| 1556 J. Heywood Spider & F. xxv. 7 Flise at libertee in and out might chop. 1562 ― Prov. & Epigr. (1867) 142 [He] as rashely, as rudely, chopt foorth. 1583 Golding Calvin on Deut. lx. 359 They chop downe to the table lyke swyne. 1600 F. Walker Sp. Mandeville 152 a, When they see any Hawke..they choppe downe into the Snowe. a 1611 Beaum. & Fl. Maid's Trag. iv. ii, Thou wilt chop out with them unseasonably, When I desire them not. a 1620 J. Dyke Sel. Serm. (1640) 108 They chop suddenly off from these duties, breake them off abruptly. a 1688 Villiers (Dk. Buckhm.) Chances (1714) 143 Whose Chastity he chops upon, he cares not. 1691 Lady R. Russell Lett. II. cxxi. 89 Now every thing is so soon chopped upon and gone. 1698 Norris Pract. Disc. IV. 67 It would not do so well to..chop down right into a discourse about Religion. |
c. Naut. to chop to an anchor: to come to anchor hastily.
| 1633 T. James Voy. 22 We chopt to an Anker; and sayed the pumps. |
† 9. a. Of involuntary action: To be precipitated, to come or go suddenly, to drop, fall, etc. With down, in. Obs.
| 1579 Tomson Calvin's Serm. Tim. 261/2 There be no stumbling blocks to make vs chop out of the way. 1583–91 H. Smith Wks. (1866–7) I. 366 A hard thing for princes to remember death; they..chop into the earth before they be aware. 1589 R. Harvey Pl. Perc. 3 If his frinds or his foes chop into it vnawares. 1627 Drayton Agincourt 124 And being gotten to the top..downe on th' other side doth chop, And to the foot came rumbling. 1681 Cotton Wond. Peak (ed. 4) 55 The water's margent here goes down so steep, That at the first step, you chop in middle-deep. |
† b. To fall in with; come upon suddenly and by chance; to fall upon. Obs.
| 1653 W. Blithe Eng. Improv. Imp. xxviii. 192 He shall never make a Plough to go with ease by his rules, unless he chop upon it by chance. 1692 Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) II. 503 One of our..ships..chopt upon a French privateer..and took her. 1697 Collier Ess. Mor. Subj. ii. (1709) 197 He is just chop'd in with a Pack of Dogs. 1703 Farquhar Inconstant iii. (1728) 42 What shou'd I chop upon but the very place. 1720 De Foe Capt. Singleton xii. (1840) 217 We chopped upon a booty. |
III. = chap v.1 II.
† 10. intr. To break open in clefts or cracks; to crack, cleave; now to chap. Obs.
| 1576 Baker Jewell of Health 17 a, The Oven must..be well playstred with fast and strong Lyme, that the same chop not. 1578 Lyte Dodoens 318 A certayne fruit like unto peares, the whiche do also chop and cleeve asunder. 1693 Evelyn De la Quint. Compl. Gard. I. 23 Soils that easily Chop in the time of great long heats. 1759 Heberden in Phil. Trans. LI. 216 The nipples of her breasts chopped. |
11. trans. To make a cleft or incision in, gash.
| 1669 Worlidge Syst. Agric. vj. §2 (1681) 91 If the old [Elm] Roots be chopped or slit, and slightly covered with light Mould, they will send forth plenty of Suckers. 1857 Holland Bay Path vi. 76 That rough thread of soil, chopped by the blades of a hundred streams. |
IV. = chap v.1 III. Sc.
† 12. trans. To strike, knock; mod.Sc. chap.
| a 1375 in Lay Folks Mass-bk. 137 He chopped his Cholle, A-ȝeyn þe Marbel-ston. 1513 Douglas æneis ix. xii. 46 For wikkit Iuno..Choppyt by the schaft [of the spear]. a 1572 Knox Hist. Ref. Scotland Wks. 1846 I. 99 Thei wold chope thare familiares on the cheak with it. 1599 James I βασιλ. Δωρον (1682) 11 Conscience..choppeth..him with a feeling that he hath done wrong. a 1657 Sir J. Balfour Ann. Scotl. (1824–5) II. 68 It was..his Maiesties pleasur, that they tuo should chope handes, and embrace one ane other, wich..they werey cordially did. |
† 13. intr. To strike; mod.Sc. chap.
| 1513 Douglas æneis v. vi. 66 Diores, quhidderand at his bak fute hate, His tais choppand on his heill all the gait. a 1572 Knox Hist. Ref. Wks. 1846 I. 206 The galayes..eschapping a great danger, for upon the back of the sandis thei all schopped. |
V. In various uses this verb and the next appear to run together, and produce senses which combine the two notions of ‘striking’, or suddenly moving in any direction, with that of ‘turning’ as in the chopping of the wind. Thus a fox is said to chop back and double; a mineral vein chops up, down, back, etc.
| a 1620 J. Dyke Sel. Serm. (1640) 108 Such a sudden and immediate chopping from holy duties to matters of the world. 1747 [See chop n.1 II]. 1879 J. Armstrong Wanny Blossoms (Hexham) 85 The fox chops back and doubles like a hare. |
▪ VIII. chop, v.2
(tʃɒp)
Also 5–7 choppe.
[Appears bef. 1400 in the appellation choppe-churche, which implies earlier use of the vb., though the latter has been found first, in the phrase ‘to choppe and change’, late in the 15th c. The history is not clear, but as chap was of occasional earlier use in the same sense, it is not improbable that chop was merely a variant due to the circumstance that other words of the same form varied between chop and chap. There appears little reason to think that the Flemish kōpen, koopen, to sell, or its Eng. form cope, or the ON. kaupa, or its Sc. form coup, had anything to do with the origin of choppe. The difference between (koːp) and (tʃɒp) is great.]
I. To barter, give in exchange.
† 1. intr. or absol. To barter; make an exchange with. Obs.
| c 1485 [see chop and change, 4 a]. 1580 Hollyband Treas. Fr. Tong, Eschanger, to exchange, to chop, to scorse. 1590 Tarleton News Purgat. (1844) 56 Will you chop with me? voules vous troquer avec moi? 1611 Cotgr. Changer..to exchange, interchange, trucke, scoorse, barter, chop with. 1613 Beaum. & Fl. Captain i. ii, [A trader] in another country..Chopping for rotten raisins. c 1630 Drummond of Hawthornden Poems Wks. (1711) 34 Mars chops with Saturn; Jove claims Mars's sphere. |
2. trans. To exchange one thing for another by way of commerce; to barter. to chop away: to barter away; also fig., to bargain away or let go for unworthy objects or motives. Obs. or dial.
| 1554 Latimer Wks. (1845) II. 433 Shall we go about to chop away this good occasion, which God offereth us. 1581 Mulcaster Positions xl. (1887) 229 Schoole places..being in the hart of townes, might easely be chopt for some field situation. 1623 Bp. Hall Serm. V. 157 Here one chops away the Truth, for fear or ambition. 1693 Shadwell Volunteers iv. (1720) IV. 467 Horses that are jades..may be chopt away, or sold in Smithfield. 1706 Lond. Gaz. No. 4236/4 The same Person has..chopp'd and dispos'd of several Horses. 1880–81 E. Cornwall, Oxford, I. of Wight, etc. Gloss., Chop, to barter, to exchange. Mod. Kent. dial. He chopped away three old hens for two young ones. |
† 3. To buy and sell, make commerce of. Obs.
| 1645 Milton Tetrach. Wks. (1738) 254 To limit it to that age, when it was in fashion to chop matrimonies. |
4. to chop and change: an alliterative phrase in which, as the force of the word chop has become indistinct, the meaning has passed from that of ‘to barter’ to that of ‘to change, alter’. a. intr. To practise bartering; buy and sell; bargain with.
| c 1485 Digby Myst. (1882) v. 641, I..choppe and chaunge with symonye, and take large yiftes. 1526 Tindale 2 Cor. ii. 17 Many..which choppe and chaunge with the worde of God. 1578 T. N[ichols] tr. Conq. W. India 197 A hundred thousand persons come thither to choppe and change. 1622 R. Hawkins Voy. S. Sea (1847) 148 To speake with some of the Indians..to see if they would..chop and change with us. |
b. trans. To buy and sell, exchange; also fig.
| 1549 Allen Jude's Par. Rev. 29 She hath chopped and changed it; yea she hath solde it. 1558 Will of C. Alee (Somerset Ho.), Shall neither give, sell, choppe nor chaunge any part. 1584 Leicester's Commonw. (1641) 60 He doth chop and change what lands he listeth with her Majesty. 1590 H. Barrow in Confer. i. 6 You buy and sell, chop and change your ecclesiasticall offices..as horses in a faire. 1852 R. S. Surtees Sponge's Sp. Tour xxxix. 212 He was continually chopping and changing his horses. |
c. intr. or absol. To change one's tactics or ways, to make frequent changes; to change about.
| 1540 Coverdale Confut. Standish Wks. II. 419 Even as ye pervert the words of holy scripture..as ye chop and change with it. 1583 Stubbes Anat. Abus. ii. 108 They cannot content themselues with common, and vsuall fashions, but they must chop and chaunge euerie day with the worlde. 1635 Quarles Embl. i. ix. (1718) 38 O, who would trust this world..That..chops and changes ev'ry minute. 1888 Poor Nellie 299 It is to be hoped he knows his own mind this time, and does not intend chopping and changing about again. |
d. trans. To change, make different, alter.
| 1557 N. T. (Genev.) 1 Pet. ii. 2 note, [That] they be not deceaued by them which chope and change it, and gyue poyson in stede of it. 1566 T. Stapleton Ret. Untr. Jewel iv. 63 Thus he choppeth and changeth his minde. 1655 W. Gurnall Chr. in Arm. iv. (1669) 254/2 [Laban] chopping and changing his wages so oft. 1724 A. Collins Gr. Chr. Relig. 222 To chop and change the whole Old Testament as he pleases. |
II. Hence the meaning of ‘change’ passes over into chop alone. (As said of the wind, there was prob. some influence of chop v.1 in the sense of ‘striking’ in a given direction.)
† 5. trans. To change. Obs.
| 1644 Milton Areop. (Arb.) 61 This is not to put down Prelaty, this is but to chop an Episcopacy; this is but to translate the Palace Metropolitan from one kind of dominion into another. |
6. intr. esp. Naut. Of the wind: To change, veer, or shift its direction suddenly; usually with round, about (up, obs.).
| a 1642 Sir W. Monson Naval Tracts i. (1704) 191/2 The Wind would chop up Westerly. 1657 R. Ligon Barbadoes (1673) 19 It was the time of Tornado, when the winds chop about into the South. 1754 Fielding Amelia iii. iv, The wind, which was at first fair, soon chopped about. 1794 Southey Bot. Bay Eclog. iii, Then the fair wind of fortune chopt round in my face. 1805 A. Duncan Mariner's Chron. III. 174 At the same moment the wind chopped from N.N.W. to west. 1854 H. Miller Sch. & Schm. i. (1860) 5 The wind chopped suddenly round, and they all set out to sea. |
7. transf. and fig. To turn with, or like, the wind.
| 1657 Howell Londinop. 13 The probablest reason why three or four tydes do chop in one day is, because the winds blowing, etc. 1711 F. Fuller Med. Gymn. Pref. When a Cough comes to last above a Month, and begins to chop in its Indications. 1814 D'Israeli Quarrels Auth. (1867) 395 The weathercock chopping with the wind, so pliant to move, and so stiff when fixed. 1833 Marryat P. Simple xv, The ship turned slowly to the wind, pitching and chopping as the sails were spilling. 1860 Thackeray Four Georges i, How the House of Lords and House of Commons chopped round. |
8. trans. To exchange or bandy words; esp. in to chop logic: to exchange logical arguments and terms, bandy logic, reason argumentatively, argue.
(In late use, often erroneously referred to chop v.1, as if ‘to mince’, divide minutely, ‘split hairs’, or ‘hash up’.)
| c 1525 Skelton Replyc. 118 Wolde..That wyse Harpocrates Had your mouthes stopped..Whan ye logyke chopped. 1577 Stanyhurst Descr. Irel. in Holinshed VI. 49 You charge me..that I presume to chop logike with you..by answering your snappish Quid with a knappish Quo. 1611 Beaum. & Fl. Knt. B. Pestle i. 51 Harke how he chops Logick with his Mother. 1659 J. Arrowsmith Chain Prin. 349 Bublings up of carnal reason against divine dispensations..which our English Proverb calls chopping Logick with God. 1661 Ussher Power Princes ii. (1683) 142 What confusion would be brought..if a Son, or a Servant, or a Subject might have liberty to stand upon terms and chop Logick with his Father, Master, or Prince. 1771 Smollett Humph. Cl. (1815) 25 A man must not presume to use his reason, unless he has studied the categories, and can chop logic by mode and figure. 1840 Carlyle Heroes ii. (1858) 232 A bastard kind of Christianity..chopping barren logic merely! 1854 H. Miller Sch. & Schm. ix, Men chopping little familiar logic on one of the profoundest mysteries of Revelation. |
† b. rarely with other objects.
| 1685 tr. Gracian's Courtiers Man. 140 To chop reasons. 1746 Berkeley Wks. IV. 304 We will chop politics together. |
† c. intr. To bandy words, to answer back.
| 1581 Mulcaster Positions xxxviii. (1887) 181 With some Logicall helpe to chop, and some Rhetoricke to braue. 1617 Hieron Wks. 1619–20 II. 321 How soone came he [Jonah] to that extremity of testinesse, that he feared not (as it were) to chop with God. 1626 Bacon Sylva §252 Echoes are, some more sudden and chop again as soone as the voice is delivered. Ibid. §248 If it [an Eccho] be neare, and yet not so neare, as to make a Concurrent Eccho, it choppeth with you upon the sudden. 1625 ― Ess. Judicature (Arb.) 457 Let not the Counsell at the Barre, chop with the Iudge..after the Iudge hath Declared his Sentence. |
† d. trans. To find fault with; = argue v. 2.
| 1712 Arbuthnot John Bull Pref. 3, I was never afraid to be choped by my master for telling of truth. |
▪ IX. chop, v.3
(tʃɒp)
Also 6–7 choppe.
[app. f. chop n.2 in the sense of ‘take with the chops’; but probably vaguely associated also with those senses of chop v.1 which express sudden action.]
† 1. trans. To take into the chops and eat; to snap up. Obs.
| 1581 J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 350 With your fingers you handle the reall, corporall, substanciall, identicall presence of Christ, behold the same with your eyes, and choppe him uppe at a morsell. 1639 Fuller Holy War iv. xxviii. (1840) 230 With which [goods] the waves played a little, and then chopped them up at a morsel. 1665 Boyle Occas. Refl. iv. v. (1675) 195 A large Fish, espying the Fly..having greedily chop'd it up, etc. 1701 J. Collier M. Aurel. 244 She does not chop him up at a Mouthful, like the Sphinx. |
† 2. fig. Applied to hurried reading or speaking in which the words are ‘swallowed’ or bolted. Obs.
| 1583 Stubbes Anat. Abus. ii. 74 Which maketh them [Reading ministers] to gallop it ouer as fast as they can, and to chop it vp with all possible expedition, though none vnderstand them. c 1690 B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, To chop up Prayers, to huddle them up, or slubber them over. |
† 3. intr. To snap, to bite at. Obs.
| 1599 Nashe Lenten Stuffe (1871) 76 [The fish] seeing the mark fall so just in his mouth, chopped a-loft and snapped her up. 1648 Herrick Hesper., Chop Cherry, Thou mad'st me chop, but yet, Another snapt the cherry. 1687 H. More App. Antid. (1712) 184 If a Dog chop at the bigger morsel. 1694 L'Estrange Fables xcvi. (1714) 111 The Common People will Chop like Trouts at an Artificial Fly. |
4. trans. Hunting. To seize (prey) before it has time to get fairly away from cover.
| a 1624 Bp. M. Smith Serm. (1632) 201 While the Vrchin..creepes forth to sucke the cow, he is dogged, and chopped in. 1757 Foote Author i. 28 The Pleasure of this Play, like hunting, does not consist in immediately chopping the Prey. 1781 P. Beckford Hunting 141 Harefinders are of one great use: they hinder your hounds from chopping hares, which they otherwise could not fail to do. 1875 Stonehenge Brit. Sports i. i. vii. §8. 108 The spaniels will..even chop them occasionally; but..the bird (woodcock) is very nimble in evading the jaws of his enemy. 1888 Elworthy W. Somerset Word-bk s.v., Bad luck, the hounds chopped a fox in Tripp brake, and after that 'twas a blank. |
† b. trans. To seize. Obs.
| 1726 G. Shelvocke Voy. round World 449 David Griffith..who was chopp'd, that is, seiz'd till the man who was guilty of the crime was deliver'd to them. |
▪ X. chop, v.4 colloq.
[f. chop n.1 2 b.]
To eat a chop.
| 1841 Mrs. Gore Cecil xx, I would rather have ‘chopped’ at the ‘Blue Posts’ as I once did, fifteen years before. 1887 Sala Illust. Lond. News 5 Feb. 144, I went one day..to ‘chop’ at the Cock. |
▪ XI. chop, v.5
Anglo-Ind.: see under chop n.5
▪ XII. chop, v.6 W. Afr. colloq.
[Cf. chop n.6]
To eat.
| 1833 W. F. W. Owen Narr. Voy. Afr., Arabia II. xxv. 327 ‘Chop’ for eating; as ‘Suppose go long way among Bullaman, he chop you’. 1896 Westm. Gaz. 18 Mar. 5/3 The natives have sent word..that if the Consul interfered with them they would make a raid on the trading factories and ‘chop’ (a native expression for ‘eat’) the white traders there. 1920 Blackw. Mag. June 845/2 You're both chopping with me to-night, so we can talk things over. 1969 Islander (Victoria, B.C.) 19 Oct. 2/1 ‘Where are we going to chop,’ Ian said [in Accra]. ‘Chop?’ I said. ‘Eat,’ the other three replied, delighted to put me down. ‘We go choppem proper.’ |